



' ^ '\ ■J 



" ^■^^u*/^ 









"^o V 










•"•i^- 






^'^/n.-'i 



Coj'yr^^/i/, iS66, hy Franfi B. Carpcntc. 



,__y9^^^775t^/2^-»^ <i£zyUC.^r(^ 



From the original portrait, painted from lift, at Ihr 
Wliite Hoiisr in jSb4, by Frank fS. Carpenter, and 
no'tU in the possession of titc artist. 

From Mrs. Lincoln. 

Chicac-.o, December 25, 1866. 
Mr. Frank B. Carpenter. 

Mv l)ear Sir: -I write to you to-d:iy to thank you 
lor the most pL-rlcct likeness of my beloved liusband 
lliat I have ever seen. . . . I have seen quite a 
number of portraits of him, but none of them have 
ever approached the truthfulness and perfection of 
likeness of yours. , . . More we could not ask 
or expect. 



With sincere t 



MARY LINXOLX. 



THE MEMORIAL 



WAR BOOK 



AS DRAWN FROM HISTORICAL RECORDS AND PERSONAL NARRATIVES 
OE THE MEN WHO SERVED IN THE GREAT STRUGGLE 



MAJOR GEORGE F; WILLIAMS 

Author of "■' Bullet and Shell," " Lights and Shadows of Army Life," "Famous War Generals on ILorseback," etc. Also Special 

War Correspondent -ailh the Army of the Potomac, the Army of the James, the Army of lite Shenandoah and 

the Army of the Cuinberland ; also Correspondent in the Franco-Mexican War, the 

Guatemala- Nicarairuan Way, and the Chili-Peruvian War, etc. 



ILLUSTRATED BY 



TWO THOUSAND MAGNIFICENT ENGRAVINGS 

Reproduced largely from photographs taken by the 

U. S. Government Photographers, M. B. Brady and Alexander Gardner, 

Being the only original photographs taken during the war of the Rebellion; making a 

COMPLETE PANORAMA OF THIS GREATEST EVENT IN HISTORY 



PORTRAITS OF THE LEADERS AND COMMANDERS OF BOTH THE FEDERAL AND 
confederate armies and NAVIES, 

Giving, for the first time, a complete pictoiial representation ot the scenes, battles, and incidents, 

the whole forming a fitting memorial of the greatest event of the century, 

the most momentous of the ages. 



NEW YORK 

COPYRIGHT. iSq4, BY 

LOVELL BROTHERS COMPANY 




GKOUP OF CUNTKABAN 



THE BRADY AND GARDNER PHOTOGRAPHS. 



Most of the illustrations in this work are reproductions from the celebrated photographs made 
by M. B. Bkadv and Alexaxdek Gakdnek, under authority of the U. S. Government. 

These pictures are okigixai, i'iiotoiikapiis taken tluring the war of the Rebellion. It 
is more than a quarter of a century since the sun painted these real scenes of that great war, and the 
"negatives " have undergone chemical changes which makes it slow and difficult work to get " prints " 
from them. Of course no more " negatives " can be made, as the scenes represented by this series of 
war views have passed away forever. The great value of these pictures is, therefore, apparent. 

Just how things looked " at tin- front," during the great war, is, with the most of us, now, after 
the lapse of nearly thirty years, only a fading memory, cherished, it is true, and often called up 
from among the dim pictures of the past, but after all, only the vision of a dream. Artists have painted, 
and sketched, and engraved, with more or less fidelity to fact and detail, those " scenes of trial and 
danger," but all of their pictuix's are, in a greater or less degree, imaginary conceptions of the artist. 
Happily our Government authorized, during the war, skillful photographers to catch with their cameras 
the reflection, as in a mirror, of very many of those thrilling and interesting scenes. 

These views vividly renew the memories of our war days. The camp, the march, the battle- 
fields, the forts and trenches, the wounded, the prisoners, the dead, the hurriedly made graves, and 
many other of these once familiar scenes are photographically portrayed and perpetuated. These are 
not sketches or imaginary scenes, but are the original p/iotograp/is taken on the spot. 

The wonderful progress in the art of photo-engraving enables the publishers of this work to 
place these inestimable records in permanent form, and thus preserve them for future generations for 
all time. 



Tlie original war views reprocUiceil in tliis work are .selected from more than 6,000 neijatives taken liy tlie Government IMiotog- 
raphers, M. H. I'.kaiiy and Ai,i'.X/\nder CJakdnkk, during tlie years i36i, 1S62, 1S63, 1864 and 1S65, by special arrangements with 
the owners, I'lie War Photograph and Exhibition Company, of Hartford, Conn., from uliom we have obtained their exclusive use. 





T^^''%^ ' 



PREFACE 



There are many good histories of the great American Civil War in existence, but they 
all dwell on a multitude of minor details, and devote much space to critical analysis of the 
military strategy displayed l.)y the opposing commanders. The mind of the reader is 
therefore fatigued and confused, for he obtains only an imperfect conception of the precise 
scope of the various campaigns. 

The actual scenes in the Civil War have not )"et been described in a \va\- to afford a 
realistic idea of their character, although participants have given, from time to time, 
abundant individual narratives of what they saw and did. The object of this Memoki.vl 
War Book is to present a series of pen pictures drawn from material that has never before 
l:)een collected. It is not a history of the war, but a series of personal reminiscences of 
stirring adventures and lifelike descriptions of campaigns and battles, as the soldier saw 

them, with sufficient memoranda of the events attending the 
progress of the struggle to give the reader an understanding 
of their relative importance. 

While the regular course of events will be closely 
followed, it has been the aim of the author to avoid all 
technicalities, and describe the heroic deeds of Federal and 
Confederate soldiers, just as the men, themselves, would do. 
But the greatest value of this work is the absolute fidelity of 
the illustrations. Many were taken during the progress of 
hostilities, and are now given to the public for the first time. 
These were not sketches, but actual photographs, and can 
never be reproduced, as the originals are rapidly fading. 
The reader is thus jDlaced on the very ground where the 
historic scenes of the war occurred, and is carried back to 
a period of thirt\- ^^ears ago. 

G. F. W. 





SLAVE PEN, ALEXANDKIA, 



Slave Pen, Alexandria, Va. This is a view of one of the biiildin.Ljs known as Slave Pens, in which 
negroes were kept as chattels, while being bought and sold. The building to the left was fitted up 
with iron cells, or cages, where the slaves were confined. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




CHAPTER I. 



ORICnX OF THE XATIOXAL i^)UARKIiL 

It is customary to speak of the war between the secession and loyal States of 
America as "The War of 1 86 1-5," because men remember only the campaigns, battles and 
sieges which marked the period of actual hostilities. But the (juarrel between the Northern 
and Southern sections of the country had been gathering force and bitterness, long before 
the battering of Fort Sumter l.)y Confederate cannon finally broke the seal of peace, and 
lighted the torch that was to blaze with such dreadful fury for four long and weary years. 

The American Civil War may be justly characterized as a national punishment for the 
sin of sla\ery committed b)' the Fathers of the Revolution, when they threw off England's 
yoke, anil estal)lished a iM'ee Republic. The very existence of negro slavery in one section 
of the country, while it was strictly forbidden in the other and larger part of the national 
territory, was calculated to create a feeling of antagonism which, though latent, must have, 
sooner or later, resulted in quarrels on public polic)-. The South believed that the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 





^ssij-s^mmmn 



GENEKAL WINFIELD SCOTT AND STAFF,— 1-KOM AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH 



S'FIELD SCOTT. 



successful cultivation of cotton, tobacco and rice could 
only be profitably carried on by the perpetuation of 
slavery. The North, on the other hand, was receiv- 
in^T the best blood of Europe, for immii,n-ation had not then descended to its present 
low strata, and as this intelligent and educated labor came in search of personal, religious 
and political freedom, it set its face against the continuance of servile labor. 

The historical student will, of course, find other causes of dispute. The South depended 
upon the products of the soil and demanded free trade, while the North, deriving its 

wealth from manufacturing interests, insisted on a protective 
tariff. There was also the divergent ideas, among great 
political leaders, concerning the bond that bound the States 
together. One class of statesmen held the belief that the 
Federal Union was a league, which could be terminated at 
will by any one of the States. Another class clung to the 
doctrine that the 
Federal Union 
meant a national 
government for 
the whole nation, 
and therefore no 
State could se- 
cede without the 
consent of all the 
others. This was 
a question that 
could only be 
settled by an aj)- 
peal to arms. Meanwhile the tide of emigra- 
tion flowed into the Territories and so rapid!}' 
developed them that the South sought to 
further extend the sy.stem of slaver\-. Thus 
the quarrel grew more and more bitter. 




UONTGOMEKV ULAIK 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




I Cameron, Sec'y of Wak. 
Welles, SrcVofNavy. 
P. Chase, Sec'v of Treasu 



■ Hamlin and Mk, Lincoln's Fii 



5. William H. Sewaru, Sec'i 
OF State. 

6. Calfr B. SsiiTH, Sec'v 

THE Interior. 

7. Edward Bates, Attorne 

General, 



i6 



run MJiMOKIM. WAR JUH^K. 




FLAG OF THE CON 



As is al\va\s the case among 
politicians, many expedients were re- 
sorted to, by both Northern and Sou- 
thern statesmen, in hopes of bridi^nng 
o\-er the chasm that was hourly 
widening between the sections. The 
Missouri Compromise was the most 
famous of these futile efforts to cure 
a national disease by superficial treat- 
ment. When Louisiana was purchas- 




^j^y^-'<:^-^L..ia^-T>'^^<^'£i^es^ur:^ 



ed from France in 1S03, the present State of Missouri formed a part of the acquired 
territory. In 1829 Missouri sought admission into the Union as a State, when it was 
proposed by the North to prohibit slavery in the new State. After much angry and bitter 
discussion it was finally agreed that Missouri should have slavery, but the system was to 
be prohibited in all the United States territory north and west of the northern boundary' 

of Arkansas. But this 
so - called compromise 
did not settle the ques- 
tion, it only postponed 
the final result. The 
S o u t h succeeded, in 
1850, in having Con- 
gress pass the Fugitive 
Slave bill, by which 
owners were authorized 
to seize their slaves 
who might escape into 
a free State. Despite 
the latent anger of the 
Northern people, the 
South pursued its set- 
tled policy, and in 1854 
securctl the repeal of 
the Missouri Comprom- 
ise. This repeal, or can- 
cellation, was contained 
in the act oroanizinp' 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



'SiSi*^ ■ s-srfei^ 




territorial govern- 
ments for Kansas and 

Nebraska, giving the 
people therein the 
sole right to decide 
for themselves the 
question of excluding 
or adopting slavery. 
By this unwise step 
Congress placed 
State Rights in the 
ascendant, and the 
South found itself at 
liberty to extend its 
peculiar and hateful 
institution all over 
the Southwest. 

Seven years after, 
the civil war began. 

In 1856, the young 
Republican party en- 
tered the field of ALAKAMA KIVER at MONTGOHEKV, ALA. 

national politics, with 

Fremont as its standard bearer, while petty warfare was going on in Kansas, the " Border 
Ruffians " of Missouri, creating scenes of unparalleled violence. The election of Buchanan 
to the Presidency did not assist the South in its efforts to extend slavery. In 1S5;, Judge 
Taney decided that a slave owner might carry his slaves with him into any State of 

the Union. Dred Scott was a slave 
belonging to a surgeon in the arm)- 
who took him to Fort Snelling, sub- 
sequently returning to Missouri. Suit 
being brought to secure Dred's free- 
dom. Judge Taney affirmed that Con- 
gress could not forbid slavery in the 
Territories, and that " negroes have 
no rights which the white man is 
bound to respect." This decision, and 
the expression just quoted, was bit- 
terly resented by several Northern 
States, which passed Personal Liberty 
Laws giving freedom to every slave 
entering within their borders. In 
1859, John Brown's raid at Harper's 
Ferry gave the first outward sign that 
the blood of the people was grow- 
ing hot with sectional passion and 
prejudice. From the da)' that Brown 
and his associates made their foolish 
and ill-timed demonstration, civil war, 
in all its horror and deformity, was 




£..^^fA^a.<.'....cl4>,^i^k2^kz^L^iCt^ 



12 



Tin- Ml- MO KIM. WAR BOOK. 






V- • 



o 





PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND FIRST CONFEDERATE CABINET. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



only a question of time. John Brown had 
bt'cn for some tin.ie prominent in the L^ucr- 




illa warfare of Kansas. He acquired the 

title of " Ossawattomie " from the despe- 
rate defence he had made at that place 

against a force ten times stronger than his 

own. Finally conceiving the idea that he 

was the destined liberator of the Southern 

slaves, he decided to strike a IjIow in tln.'ir 

behalf. His theory was that the- negroes were ri[)e for revolt, and only needed a leader, 

overlooking the fact that their servile 
habits and mental ignorance unfitted these 
slaves for the task he would set them at. 












A / ■' 



^^^ ^4j/ia/af^. 



HHHHHi 




E*;-(t-i:j»«S» ' ^. ■"; 




a ■' 




i „ 


-^■^ 


^ 








^ 


m 






^ 



•• GENERAL DIX S FAMOU 



CITY OF CHARLESTON, S. C, FROM TOI' OF MILLS HOUSE. 



14 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



The town of Harper's Ferry occupies the tip of a tongue of land formed by the 
junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. There is a break in the range of BKie 
Ridge mountains just there forming the pass througli which tlie waters of these two 
rivers flow, the town nesthng at its foot. On tlie one hand rises Bolivar Heights, on the 
other stands the beetling cliffs of the Maryland Heights, so that the town is completely 
shut in b)' the mountains which hold it in so close an embrace. The water power afforded 

l)\ the sudden fall in the current of the Shenandoah 
River, led General Washington, in 1794, to select it as 
the United States Armory for the manufacture of arm)' 
muskets. The influx of so many skilled workmen made 
the town very prosperous for over half a centur)-, but 
when the lierce tide of civil war surged through its steep 
streets, the place fell into wreck and decay, the historic 
memories associated w^ith it now alone making it an object 
of interest to the tourist. 

It was the presence of the Government armory at 
Harper's I'err)-, that led John Brown to select it as the 
base of his ill-advised scheme of operations. Mustering together a force of twenty-one 
men, who he armed with pikes and muskets, he descended upon the town from Hall 
Town Heights. .Seizing possession of tlie arsenal, he arrested the chief inhabitants of the 
town and held them as hostages. lo his surprise, the slaves did not flock to his standard, 
while the State militia rapidly assembled, and the National Government proceeded to 




HETTO FLAG. 




Anderson's Officers. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




\ 



i' \-\\\ PiNCKNEV, Charleston Harbor. 

take action. Two clays after his seizure of the town, a body of United States marines 
attacked the arsenal in which Brown had entrenched himself. The conflict was brief, 
but bloody. Brown received six wounds, his two sons were killed, with eight of their 
companions. Being surrendered to the State authorities, Brown was tried for treason, 
convicted and hanged. From that day the South began its preparations for war. 

The election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency solidified the slave States in 
their determination to secede and create a new Confederacy. The political campaign of 
i860 was the bitterest that has ever 
been seen in this Republic. The 
Republican party nominated Lincoln 
and Hamlin on the platform that 
slavery should be prohibited in the 
Territories. The Constitutional party 
selected Bell and Everett, demanding 
the Union of the States and the 
enforcement of the laws. The Dem- 
ocratic party was split in two by 
the demands of the South. One 
section asserted that slavery should 
be extended by Congress into the 
Territories, and nominated Breckin- 
ridge and Lane. The other section 
held that the people of the Territories 
should decide the question of slavery 
for themselves, and selected Douglas 
and Johnson as their standard bearers. 
As soon as it was known that 
Lincoln had carried the Electoral 
College, the South took action, the 
State of South Carolina leading the 
way by passing an ordinance of seces- 
sion on December 20, i860. The 
States of Mississippi, Florida, Ala- 




l6 



THE MEMORIAL WAR JiOOK. 




bama, Geor^^ia, Louisiana and Texas 
followctl in lanuary and February, 
1 86 1. President Buchanan took 
the view that neither he nor Con- 
gress had the right to coerce a 
State, so no Federal action was 
taken against the revolting members 
of the sisterhood. 

Despite the fact that it was 
known in the "Loyal" States that 
active preparations for war were 
going on in the South, the North- 
ern people refused to believe that 
the men of the South seriously 
contemplated actual hostilities. 

Even when "The Confederate 
States of America" entered into a 
formal compact at Montgomery, 
Ala., on February 4, 1 86 1 , and seized 
all Federal propertywithin their bor- 
ders, not a single step towards war 
was taken by the remaining States. 
At that moment the question of 
State rights stood on debatable 
ground. Many prominent Nor- 
thern men believed in it, and pro- 
phesied that if fighting did ensue, 
it would not be along Mason and 
Dixon's line, but in the cities of 
the North. In the South it was 
believed that the people of the 
North wouKl submit to a disrujjtion of the I'nion rather than face the horrors of war. 
There was a cloud in the mintls of all men, but it was suddenly lifted b\- a cannon shot 
in Charleston harbor. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



17 




Bombardment of Fokt Sumter from Mokkis Island, Charleston Harbor, S. C. 



chaptp:r II. 



THE FIRST BLOW AXlJ ITS CONSEQUENCES. 



When the Confederate States formally organized its government by electing Jefferson 
Davis to be President and Alexander H. Stevens as Vice-President, nearly all the regular 
army and naval officers of Southern birth voluntarily surrendered their Federal com- 
missions, and placed themselves at the command of their respective natal States. But 
while the military property in the hands of these officers also passed into the possession of 
the Confederacy, there were two strategic points which were retained by loyal officers. 

These were Fort Pickens, at Pensacola, Fla., 
and iMirt Sumter, in Charleston Harbor. The 
former was saved to the North by its com- 
mander. Lieutenant Slemmer, the latter by 
Major Robert Anderson. Both officers recog- 
nized the importance of their positions, so 
fortified themselves and refused to surrender to 
the Secession powers. 

Major Anderson gathered his eighty officers 
and men, and, leaving the comfortable quarters 
in P^ort ]Moultrie, after spiking its guns, he 
removed the garrison to Fort -Sumter. This 
structure had been erected on a rip-rap form- 
ation in the centre of the harbor, and being 
built of solid granite masonry, was deemed 
almost impregnable. Anderson, being isolated, 
soon found his food supplies running short, 
and it seemed only a cjuestion of time when he 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




must surrender. Buclianan's Sccretar\- of War, Floyd, asked the President's permission 
to withdraw Anderson's command from Charleston Harbor, and failing to oljtain it, 
resigned and joined the Confederates. 

For three long and weary months Anderson held possession of .Sumter. '1 hough he 
was treated as an enemy by Governor Pickens, of .Soutli Carolina, and could see the 
.Secession batteries gathering shape on Morris Island, the Major refrained from firing a 
shot. The steamer .Star of the West was sent to revictual Anderson and arrived at 
Charleston on the morning of [anuary 9, 1S61. As the steamer passed up the channel a 
masked Ixattery on Morris Island opened fire, as did also the guns of Fort Moultrie. 
Captain John McGowan at once hoisted the American ensign, Init it was not resjjected, 
and cannon balls continued to pass over and around the Star of the W est, until she 
was compelled to put to sea again. 

This was the first act of the Civil War 
that was to cost .so much blood and treasure. 
It was hailed with delight by the people of 
the seceding States, while the people of the 
North were surprised at its audacity. Ander- 
son rightly considering the act as one of war, 
sent a flag of truce to Governor Pickens, 
and demanilcd an apology anil the right to 
recci\e su|iplii's. The Go\'ernor refused to 
make the one or grant the other, so Ander- 
son prepared for actual hostilities. 

When Anderson hoisted the old .Stars 
and .Stripes o\er the l;attlements of P'ort 
.Sumter, the .South Carolinians seizetl Castle 
Pinckney, Port Moultrie and F'ort Johnston. 
They found the guns all spiked, but contented 




THE MEJ\IORIAL WAR BOOK. 



19 




themselves in hoist- 
ing over Castle 
Pinckney a Palmet- 
to flag. It was the 
first Secession flag 
hoisted over a forti- 
fication belonging 
to the U nited States. 
Subsequently a n - 
other ensign was de- 
signed. 

The temper of 
the North at this 
critical juncture of 
affairs is clearly ' parapet." "" 

shown by the action 

of John A. Dix, who had become Secre- 
tary of the Treasury under Buchanan, 
whose cabinet was rapidly crumbling 
to pieces as the Confederate conspiracy 
grew to a head. When Di.x went into 
office, the cutter Lewis Cass was at 
Mobile, and the Robert McClelland at 
New Orleans. He at once ordered 
their commanders to return with their 
vessels to New York. Both officers 
procrastinated, and Captain Breshwood 
finally and deliberately refused to obey. 



This was in January, 1861. Lin- 
coln's term would not begin for ten 
weeks yet. Secretary Dix did not 
hesitate, for in a moment of inspira- 
tion he sent a telegram ordering the 
arrest of Captain Breshwood as a 
mutineer, adding the memorable 
Avords : " If anyone attempts to haul 
down the American flag, shoot him 
on the spot." The telegraph being 
in the hands of the insurgents at both 
Mobile and New Orleans, the order 
was intercepted and did not reach the 
agent of the Treasury Department, 
and the cut- 

ters were both 

lost to tlie 
Government. 

President 
Lincoln took 
his seat on 
March 4, 1 86 1, 
and\'ice-Pres- 
itlent Hamlin 
convened the 
United States 
Senate. Mr. 
Lincoln select- 
ed for his Cab- 
inet William 





FORT SUMTER.— I.N 



77//;" MF.MORIAI. WAR BOOK. 





W. Seward as Sccretan- of State- ; Simon 

Caiiicroii. Secretary of War; Salmon P. 

Chase, Secretar)- of tlie 'rreasiir\-; (iideon 

Welles, Secretary of tlu: \a\\- ; CaU'h B. 

Smith, Secrelar\- of the Interior; Mont- 

_!;x)mer\' lUair, I'ostmaster Cieneral and 

Mdward Bates as Attorne)- General. 

Charles A. Dana was appointed Assistant 

Secretary of War ; Caleb B. Smith was 

succeeded, in 1863, by John P. Usher as 

Attorney General, and Simon Cameron, 

in I SO:!, b\- luhvin M. Stanton, known ha,, oim-.mtek. ,j 

afterwards as the i^reat War Secretary. Jelierson Davis and Ale.xander H. Stephens 

had been inaui^uratetl as President and Vice-President of the Confederate States, 

on the iSth of P'ebruary, 1861, at a Convention held at Montgomery, Ala., assembled 

there on February 4th, 1861, the vote being declared by R. M. T. Hunter, President of 

the Senate, who subsequent!}' 
succeeded Robert Toombs as 
Secretary of State. Mr. Davis 
selected for his Cabinet, Rob- 
ert Toombs, Secretary of State; 
Lero)' Pope Walker, Secre- 
tary of War; Stephen R. Mal- 
lor\', .Secretary of the Navy ; 
Cristopher G. Memminger, 
Secretary of the Treasury-; Ju- 
dah P. Benjamin, Attorney 
General and John H. Reagan, 
Postmaster General. A per- 




manent constitution was adopted 
March 11, 1861, antl the Capi- 
tol removed to Richmond on the 
18th of l-'ebruary, 1862, wh(m the 
Provisional Congress expired 
and the new Constitution went 
into operation. 

The excitement throughout the 
North and the South had now 
reached such a pitch that no man 
knew what the next da)- woukl 
bring forth. ( )ne of the first acts 




SEA VIEW, FOKT SUMTEK. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



of Lincoln was to take up the question of Fort Sumter. He was advised to tell Amlerson 
to make terms with the enemy, but firmly refused, ordering instead an armed expedition 
for the relief of the beleagured garrison. This squadron consisted of the steamer Baltic, 
the sloops-of-war Pohowtan, Pawnee and Pocahontas, the cutter Harriet Lane and 




Ct^^J'-^^(^/^'- 



sf)me tugs. It started on April g. On that da)', four jears after, General Lee and 
the Army of Northern X'irginia surrendered at Appomattox Court House. 

The Confederates were well informed regarding all movements of the Federal 
Government, and on April ii. General P. G. T. Beauregard sent a formal demand to 
Major Anderson to surrender with the honors of war. Ignorant of the fact that his 
Government had sent the relief squadron, Anderson agreed to do so by noon of the 15th, 



77//;" MEMORIAL WAK HOOK. 



should he not receive conlrai) instructions before that time. Hut while these nej^^otiations 
were in proj^n-ess, the Pawnee ami the I larricl Lain- arrixctl of! Charleston harhur, the 
Confederates therefore, prepared to bombard l-'ort Sumter and resist the passage of the 
United States vessels. Anderson was immediatel)- notified that the Confederate batteries 




h the air at twent\- minutes past 



would open fire in an hour, and the first shot llcw tlirouL 
three o'clock on the morning of April i j, iSoi. 

A gun was fired on James Island as a signal, and a shell went whizzing through the 
darkness and exploded over the Fort. Battery after l)all(r\- openetl fire, until nt-arly si\t\- 
heavy guns and mortars were in action. h"or two hours the boml^ardment continued, the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Confederate ^runners soon .L;x'"inu- their rang-e, the sohcl shot and loaded sheHs striking the 
granite walls of Fort Sumter with terrific force, some of the mortar shells falling inside the 
enclosure, and there explodetl. 




One December evening, during the siege of Petersburg, in 1864. the writer was sitting 
before the camp fire with Major-General Samuel W. Crawford, who ilun commanded the 
Pennsylvania Reserves, or Third Division of the Pifth Corps, Ami) of tb.e Potomac. The 



24 



Till- MFMORIAI. WAR ]>00K. 



Cicncral was llic- suryvon in Aiulcrson's command in l-"ort Sumlcr, and as we sat enjoying 
the i)leasanl warmth of our Httlc fire, while Hstenini,^ to the rapid exchange of Meade's 
gims in l'"ort Hell, not man)- huiulrcd )arils distant, he gave me the following description 
of the scenes in l'"ort Sumter : 

"When Major Anderson received the note telling him that we were about to he 
attacked, he summoned all of his otTicers, and announced that the h'ort must i)c: lieKl at all 
hazards. Then the garrison llag was hoisted, the postern gate was closed, antl the 
sentinels on the ramparts were withdrawn. ( )ur men were instructed to not leave the 
boml) proofs unlc-ss ordered to do so. It was a strange scene as we stood round the 




lit i:mxg ur Go!,i-oKT Navy Vakd, Norpoik, Va., Ai- 



gallant old man, and listeneil to his brave words. \\'e knew well enough that Boh would 
defend the l'oi-i to ihc last, and e\-er\' officer and man was with him in that determination. 
" 1 shall never forget the sound of that hrst shell as it passed over our heads, because 
there had been so long a period of silence during the days we were waiting for orders from 
Washington. Both you and I have heard a good deal of cannonailing since then, but it 
was 1 -ally awful to hear tho.se secession guns playing the devil's tattoo on our stone walls. 
We knew that Beauregard's men had been bus\- fortif\ing .Morris Island anil h'ort 
Moultrie (they must have had a nice time of it cutting out the spikes we left in the guns 
when we abandoned them), but we had no idea that anything was being done on Sullivan's 
Island. The Confeds had cleverly masked their operations b\- jjulling up brushwood and 
other stuft, .so you may imagine our .surprise when seventeen ten-inch mortars and nearl\- 
thirty columbiads opened from that point. The bombarduKnt nuist haw: been going on 
over two hours, when we went to breakfast. We had as ) et ukuK' no r<pl\- to the enenn 's 
fire. One thing struck me at the time, and I often think of it, and lliat was the cool 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



25 



iiulifterL-ncc clisplaycd b)' our enlisted men. They 
sat down and ate their breakfast quietly and 
unconcernedh', though their ears were being deaf- 
ened by the roar of the attacking guns and the 
detonations of the bursting shells. 

" B)' the time breakfast was over it was 
broad daylight. Old Bob Anderson then divided 
the force into three reliefs. The first was com- 
manded by General Doubleday, who was then a 
Captain ; I was given the second relief, and 
Lieutenant Sn\der, a splendid officer, took the 
third. We had plenty of gunpowder, but it was 
nearly all loose, so we had to put the ofl-reliefs 
to work preparing the cartridges. Doubleday 
fired his first gun a few minutes after seven 
o'clock, and I think he pulled the lanyard himself. 
At least, that is my impression. We soon had 
all of our guns at work, and kept them going 
until nearly noon. It would have delighted }our 
heart to see how our men peppered Fort Moul- 
trie, for we could see that our shot and shell were 

HEAR ADMIRAL H. PAULDING. 

making gaps in the embrasures. But after all 
there was very little use in our repl) ing to the enem)'s fusilade, for the)' had heavier 





HAMtTON, VlKGlNlA 




26 THE MEMORIAL 

metal, and were able to give a cross lire 

that l)atlLTed us umnrrcifully. Still, you 

know, it's not in hunuui nature to stanel 

idle, while bcins4 pounded, so we went on 

banging awa)- right merrih'. 

" We soon found that the enemy were 

trying to disable our barbette guns, and so 

well did they serve their pieces that not 

only were our barbette batteries silenced, 

but even a large section of the stone [Kira- 

pet was carried away b\- the huge solit.1 

shots that hit it. As you can readily un- 
derstand, we had to abandon the ramparts 

and confine ourselves to the two lower 

tiers of guns, which were, of course, pro- 
tected by casements. As I said before, 

Abner Doubledaj-'s first gun was fired a 

little after seven o'clock, and our response 

to the furious storm of shot and shell that 

the Confederates had poured down t)n old 

Sumter, lasted until almost noon. \'ou 

must remember that it was raining like 

everything, and there was a dense fog 

resting on the wati-r of the harbor, and the 

smoke from the opposing guns did not help matters much. Anderson wanted to know 

how things lojked outside, so I offered to ascend the parapet and take an observation, 

as they say at sea. There has been a lot ot toolish stuft written and printed about my 

doing this, but it was not .so terrible a thing, and, of course, any other officer in 

the garrison would have 
done it. The fact that 
I was the " doctor," as 
surgeons are familiarly 
termed, made the boys 
say I was a trump. That 
was all there was to it. 

"Well, 1 went to the 
parapet, and you may 
imagine my surprise and 
delight when 1 discover- 
eil, through the rolling 
fog antl blinding rain, 
three vessels lying out- 
side the bar. Though 
the confounded secession 
guns were still going, 
and I suppose some of 
their shells were falling 
pretty close to me, I 
know you will believe 
me when I say that I, 




THE JfEMOKIAL WAR BOOK 



27 



for the moment, forgot all about the bombardment. As all of the vessels were flying the 
Stars and Stripes, I knew they must have come to our relief, so down 1 ran and told the 
Major. I can see his pale, worn face at this very moment. You know it had been a 
terrible strain for Bob Anderson. He is a Kentuckian and one of the few Southern 
regulars who remained true to the flag. Well, his eyes brightened, and he and Doubleday 
went up and satisfied themselves that I was not mistaken. As we afterwards learned, these 
vessels were the Pawnee, carrying ten guns, the saucy little Harriet Lane and her five 
guns, and the transport Baltic, carrying two hundred recruits. But they could not cross 
the bar, because Beauregard had removed all the buo)'s. 

" I have heard that they signalled us, but we didn't know it at the time, and even if we 
had we could not have returned it, for our flag was all tangled up in the lan)-ards that had 
been cut by fragments of shell. During the afternoon the Confederate tire grew heavier, 
and some of the shot entered our embrasures, causing several slight casualties by flying 

splinters, so I had something to 
do in addition to my gunnery 
work. Our men behaved splen- 
didl)-, though the)' were exhaust- 
ed bj- fatigue, for, you know, 
eavy artillery practice is very 





severe. The barracks got on fire from shells, brick and stone flew in all directions, 
smashing windows and making a tolerably good average of everything. We kept up our 
fire prett)' well all da)', but the suppl)- of cartridges began running so low we were reduced 
to about six guns. 

"At nightfall, the Major passed the order to stop firing and close port-holes. Then a 
guard was set, and the remainder took a rest. The rain storm continued all night, and so 
did the Confederate bombardment, though they contented themselves in sending us a shell 
ever)' ten minutes or so. That was an awfully wear)- night, for very few of us got any 
sleep beyond a brief nap or two. The men were quite cheerful, though they knew that 
only one ration of rice remained. We knew relief was at hand, and supposed it would 
come after daylight. 

"When the sun rose on the following morning it was in an unclouded sky, and 
Beauregard's guns opened on us with increased violence. He evidently hoped to blow us 
and old Sumter into the water together, for not only did the missiles fly faster and faster, 
thev also sent us red-hot shot, which set all the woodwork on fire and filled the interior of 



28 



THE MEMORIAL WAR 1^00 K. 




tlic I'orl witli smoke. W'f had 
])ul the tire out tour tiim-s ihc 
[Ji'cvious cla\ , l)Ul now llic t:ntire 
l)arracks ami ofhccrs' quarters 
were in a l)laze and we had 
to let ihcm burn, for \o\\ can't 
put out llames \ ery well, when 
red-hot shot are tU'iny round 
your heads. At least, we ditln't 
trv. Our onh' fear was about 
the maj,^azine. If that had cau_i;ht 
lire and exploded, I would not 
be here with a couple ot silver 
stars on m\' shoulders. But the 
magazine escaped, though the 
main gate was burned, and the 
salh port could no longer be 
defended. 

" As you may well suppose, 
our situation had then become desperate. There we were, penned up in a crumbling 
stone fort, no rations, no cartridges, and in the centre of a vortex of cannonading 
that was growing more and more severe. The intense heat and the smoke from 
the burning buildings was our worst trouble, while the crashing of the shells, the 
roaring of the flames, and the falling of masonry made one belie\e the end of all was 
soon coming. A little after the noon hour, our Hag-staff was shot away, and down came 
the llag. As it fell. Lieutenant Hale caught it, else the grimy old banner might have 
been burned. Lieutenant .Synder carried it to the ramparts, when that Police Sergeant 
Hart, who had come from the North with despatches for the Major, sprang on the 
sandbags. He and Mason Lyman fixed up the shattered staff, and the flag was again 
tl\ing. 

"While this was going on a curious thing happened. A man suddenly appeared at 
one of the lower embrasures (how 
he got there through the storm of 
shot and shell has always been a 
mystery to me), and he waved a 
white handkerchief that he had 
stuck on the point of a sword. He 
announced himself as Colonel or 
General Wigfall, I forget which it 
wa.s, and asked for Major Anderson. 
Being admitted, for he seemed 
frightened to death. Captain Foster, 
Lieutenants Mead and Davis and 
myself met him. The man then 
said he was a messenger from Gen- 
eral Beauregard, who wanted to 
stop any further bloodshed. This 
sounded funny to us, for no one 
man in the entire garrison had been 
seriously hurt, and, as )ou may 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



i9 




remember, there was only one man killed during the entire affair, and that was occasioned 
by the premature discharge of the fifteenth gun, while the details were saluting our flag 
before it was finally hauled down. ' Your flag is down,' said Wigfall, ' Sumter is in 
flames ; let us stop this firing.' Captain Foster very coolly told the fellow that the flag 
had been shot down, 
but it was up again all 
right, and as to the 
firing, Fort Sumter 
wasn't doing much of 
it just then. 

"Wigfall was terribly 
excited, and holding out 
his sword and handker- 
chief, asked Lieutenant 
Davis to hold them out 
of the embrasure. I'or- 
gettlng the ridiculous- 
ness of expecting half a 
dozen batteries to stop 
firing at the wave of a 
small rag of a handker- 
chief, Davis indignantly 
refused. Wigfall then 
said he would wave it, 
and as we consented, he 
sprang into the next 
embrasure and waved 




llellan, also irSED BV 
IRFAX COURT HOUSE, VA. 



30 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



his absurd sia;nal several times. But the Confederate guns went on banging- away, and 
one of the soUd shot happened to come into the embrasure just at that moment. If ever 
there was a man scared out of his seven senses, Wigfall was that individual. He 
retreated in disorder, and Corporal Bringhurst picked up the fellow's sword and waved 
the handkerehief, but soon found he was making a fool of himself, so abandoned it. 
Captain Foster had gone to find the Major, and there we stood looking at the strange 
messenger, who seemed to have fallen from the clouds. Wigfall then suggested that 
a wliite tla^"- be hoistetl on the ramparts, and Lieutenant I)a\is saitl it might be done if 




Major Anderson so ordered. Now it had not occurred to any of our party that if 
Beauregard had sent the messenger he would ha\e first ceased firing. But we were all 
excited, as you may well imagine, and did not stop to think. 

" Major Anderson then appeared, when Wigfall again announced himself as one of 
Beauregard's aides. He insisted that his General wanted to put an end to hostilities, and 
told the Major that, having defended his flag so nobly, he ought to be content and 
surrender. 'Come,' said Wigfall, 'let us stop this terrible work. On what terms, sir, will 
you consent to evacuate ?' The Major eyed Wigfall curiously for a moment, and then said, 
'General Beauregard knows my terms. You may tell him that, instead of waiting for the 
15th, I am ready to go now.' Wigfall seemed delighted, and retired, sa\ing that he would 
go and tell Beauregard. After he had disappeared, the Major ordered a white fiag to be 



THE MEMORIAL WAR EOOK. 



3i 



hoisted over the ramparts, but the Confederate guns did not stop their infernal fusilade, 
which struclv us as very odd. 

" By-and-by three or four Oonfederate Colonels came over and asked the meaning of 
the white flag. Then it was learned that nobody knew of Wigfall's visit, and that he had 
no authority and had acted on his own responsibility. The old man — Major Anderson, I 
mean — was mad enough when he found that he had been fooled by a crazy madcap, and 
announced that the flag should come down immediately. A discussion then followed, and 
the Major finally decided that he would evacuate the Fort on the condition that his 
garrison be permitted to march out with its arms and company property, all private 
property and the privilege of saluting and retaining our Hag. The gray-coated Colonels' 
Pryor, Chestnut, Lee and Miles, retired and the firing ceased ; we put out the fire and cot 

a little fresh air. But Beau- 
regard didn't want to lose the 
glory of taking our flag, and 
there were discussions with the 
different deputations that came, 
still Bob was as firm as a rock, 
so he got all he demanded. 
The followin 




g mornmg was 
Sunday, and we marched out 
bag and baggage, and went on 




board the steamer Clinch. On 
Monday we were put on board 
the Baltic and sailed for New 
York. Despite our humiliation 
at being compelled to surren- 
der a Government fort, there 
were some amusing incidents. 
After reserving sufficient gun- 
powder for the salute we were 
to pay our flag, in the morning 
our men very quietly rolled all fortress monkoe. 

the remaining barrels out of 

the magazine to the wharf and poured the contents into the waters of Charleston Harbor. 
The consequence was, that when the Confederates started in to salute their flag of seces- 
sion, they found the magazine destitute of powder, and were compelled to send to one of their 
ports for a supply. By that means we escaped being in the presence of a Confederate salute. 
Thus the first blow was struck, the veil had been rent, but the City of Charleston had 
to pay dearly for her share in precipitating the war. Those April days of glory and 
delight were to be atoned for in a way that her people will long remember. But when 
the secession flag rose on the walls of Sumter, none thought of the future, none dreamed 
that in exactly four years, the struggle would end in humiliation, defeat and ruin. The 
South was indeed terribly punished; but, thank God, that's all over now. As was 
natural, Beauregard received promotion, and was ordered to a more important command 
in the Confederate army, which had already begun to take visible shape and strength. 



32 



Tim Ar/uUORIAL WAR nooK. 




)F THE Fort. — Foktkess Monroe. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE NORTH ANT) THE SOUTH Rt.rSHIXO TO ARMS. 



While the bombardment of Fort Sumter was in progress, the people in the North 
were kept fully advised, for the authorities of Charleston placed no restrictions on the 
telegraph wires, so special newspaper correspondents were kept inisy. When the first shot 
was fired, special editions were issued by 
newspapers in every Northern and South- 
ern city. In less than an hour, business \ 
was almost entirely suspended. The busy j^- ♦•miWfi "^ 
wheel traffic of New York, Boston, Phila- 
delphia and other Northern ports, disap- 
peared almost by magic, while thousands 
of e.xcited men filled the streets. 

In the South, the news that P'ort 
Sumter was being bombarded caused a 
tumult of joy, though there were men 
there who experienced a feeling of horror 
at the firing on the Stars and Stripes. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



33 



They were in the minority, however, and 
remained silent. To the Southern people, 
the surrender of Anderson and his garrison, 
though a perfectly honorable one, was 
taken as an indication that the " Yankee " 
President, as they already called Lincoln, 
would not fight. They discovered their 
error in that respect after a bitter ex- 
perience. 

The Northern people received the 
news with indignation and amazement. 
The cloud of doubt was removed, and as 
it rolled away, political party prejudice was 
swept aside by a gale of lo)al passion. 
Men who had disputed on the question 
of Secession and State Rights the day 
before, now silently clasped hands, for the 
fact that the national ensign had been 
fired on, simplified the question. Before 
Beauregard's guns began bombarding a 
fort belonging to the United States, argu- 
ment was all very well. But Confederate 
shot and shell now made it a matter of war. 

On that memorable Friday, .Saturday and Sunday, the people of the two sections 
seemed possessed by a species of madness. The South believed that its independence had 





been already gained, but the North became fixed in its determination not to let the 
Seceding States go without a struggle. On Sunday, April 14, when news came to the 



34 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



" Loyal " States that Fort Sumter 
had been evacuated, a torrent of 
anger swept throui^h the hearts of 
the citizens. Preachers in the 
pulpits spoke of the nation's 
shame, and prayed for the safety 
of the Government. The streets 
of the cities, towns and villages 
were thronged, and a cry for ven- 
geance was on every lip. 

The course of public events 
now became rapid. President 
Lincoln issued his [)roclamation 
on .\pril 15, calling upon the sev- 
eral States to 
furnish their 
quota of sev- 
enty-five thou- 
sand men, who 
were to serve 
for a period of 
two years. 
He also sum- 
moned C o n - 
gress in extra 
session to de- 
cide on mea- 
sures for pub 





lie safety. 
The Con- 
federates 
were even 
mt;re act- 
ive — a call 
for thirty- 
five thou- 
s a n d a d - 
d i t i o n a 1 
troops was 
m a d e — 
while \'ir- 
ginia, Ar- 
kansas and 
Tennessee 
joined the Confederacy, 
thus widening the scope of 
the impending conflict. In- 
side of twenty-four hours 
after Lincoln's proclama- 
tion, the uniformed militia 
of New York, Connecti- 
cut, Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island, Pennsylvania and 
New Jersey were under 
arms, and some of them 
already on the march for 
Washington, while recruit- 
ing oftices were opened 
throughout the North for 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



35 




Long Bkidge, Wa 



the formation of volunteer regiments. The youthful Governor of Rhode Island, William 
Sprague, not only ordered out his entire force of State militia, but marched at their head 
as commander-in-chief. The Northern War Governors, as they are called, were all very 
energetic men, but Sprague was the only one to leave his state on service. So eager was 
the response that the Government received three hundred thousand men. The volatile 
enthusiasm displayed by those volunteering on both sides of the sectional lines, was pathetic 
in its utter ignorance of the actual severity and cruelty of active military operations. As 
the new levies departed for the scene of war, tender-hearted women shed tears at seeing 
their lo\'ed ones go away in the garb of soldiers, but the\" did not then realize the e.xtent 
of sorrow and suffering that was to be endured by them. As for the men, they looked 
upon the war as a sort of picnic, for neither side appreciated the lighting qualities of their 
opponents. Several ironclad railroad batteries were constructed for the protection of 
workmen employed in rebuilding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, but they were finally 
abandoned as useless. It was supposed that the war would last only a few weeks, and it 
took several months of hard campaigning before either Federals or Confederates under- 
stood the gigantic character which the struggle had assumed. 

When the North began arming its troops, the National Government discovered that 
Buchanan's .Secretary of War, Floyd, had denuded the armories and sent immense 
quantities of cannon, small arms and ammunition into the States that led the way to 
secession. Though somewhat crippled by this treasonable act, the armies were filled with 
e.xtra workmen, and their productive capacity trebled, so that muskets were received by the 
troops a week after they had been finished and proved. The prompt arrival of troops in 



36 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Maryland and Delaware sav- 
ed those two States for the 
Union, while Kentucky an*d 
Missouri were hnally retained 
in the column of loyal States. 
General Benjamin V. Hutler 
took possessit)n of Baltimore 
with a few re_s;iments of sol- 
diers, a mob havini:^ attacked 
the Sixth Massachus(;tts militia 
on April i 6. killin;^ five or six 
men wliile the command was 
passing' ihrouj^h the cit\- cti 
route for Washington. This 
important step was foUowcid 
by another — Butler's seizure 
of Fortress Monroe at the 
mouths of the James and \'ork 
Rivers, which form the \ iryi- 
nia Peninsula. He was accom- 
panied b)- several \olunteer 
regiments. The residents of 
Newport News and the village 
of Hampton fled, and their 
slaves llocked into the Federal 
lines, being declared b\- tlie 
Massachusetts lawyer-general 
to be contraband of war, thus 
giving them their freedom. 

Lieutenant-General Win- 
field Scott was summoned to 
Washington by President Lin- 
coln, to take command of the 
hastil)-raised army. The old 
veteran of the war of 1812 and 





'Wo?fL^ 




the hero of the Mexican War fc-lt that the infirmities 
of age would l)r(■^•(■nt his assuming the 
fatigue of another series of active cam- 
paigns. He gave the President the benefit 
of his military knowledge and experience, 
but suggested the promotion of deserving 
regular and volunteer officers to the rank 
of Major-General. McDowell, McClellan, 
Patterson, Banks, Butler, Dix, and others, 
\tre immediately raised from the rank of 
Major and Captain, and placed in command 
of separate bodies of national troops. 

Among the old regular officers selected 

for promotion was William Tecimiseh .Sher- 

■nan. Presitlent Lincoln tendered him the 

isition of Brigadier-General in the regular 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK, 



37 




army. He declined it and asked to be 

appointed to no higher place than Colonel 

— on the ground that in his opinion there 

were other men who were better fitted for 

the high command than he. His modesty 

was overruled and he lived to make the 

famous March to the Sea. 

One of the ofhcial pets of General 

Scott was Colonel Robert E. Lee, his 

chief ofstaff. His name was presented to 

President Lincoln for a Major-General's 

commission, but he was a Virginian by 

birth and believed he owed allegiance to 

his State. Just at that juncture Virginia 

seceded from the Union, and Lee unhesi- 
tatingly cast his fortunes with the Confed- old lahial i-ki=un, wa^hingtun. 

eracy. After acting for some time as 

military adviser to Jefferson Davis, he was made a Lieutenant-General, and will be known 

in history as the ablest commander the Confederacy possessed. 

The fate of Fort .Sumter had led the Northern people to almost forget Fort Pickens 

in Pensacola Bay. But, like Anderson, Lieutenant Adam J. Slemmer held his ground in 

the face of a gathering hostile force. He was in better shape, however, than Anderson had 

found himself, because Buchanan had so far overcome his timidity as to send Slemmer 

provisions and a small force of men. Having lost Fort .Sumter by delay, the Government 

rescued P^ort Pickens by starting a relief expedition from New York on April 7. The fleet 

carried four hundred and fifty soldiers, under command of Colonel Harvey Brown, who 

also had sixty-nine horses and a large supply of war ammunition and food supplies. 

These were safely landed, as was an addi- 
tional force which arrived while the first 
was going ashore. Lieutenant Slemmer 
was relieved of his command, and on his 
arrival in the North was promoted to the 
rank of Major and ultimately became a 
General. 

It was soon perceived that the Con- 
federates aimed at the capture of the City 
of Washington, for their troops -were 
assembling under Beauregard at Warren- 
ton, \'a., in the shadow of the Blue Run 
Mountains. Every effort was, therefore, 
made to counteract this movement. Then 
the Confederates advanced to Manassas, 
onl)- thirty miles from the Federal Capital. 
Despite the headlong eagerness of the 
South to precipitate the conflict, Lincoln 
hesitated to invade Virginia. But when 
he saw, from the windows of the W^hite 
House, the light of the Confederate camp- 
fires, he gave the final order, and on May 
2 ; the Federals advanced across the Poto- 




38 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




A. J. SLEMMEK. 



mac River, seizing; possession of Arlington Heights and 
the town of Alexandria. 

When the troops marched over the Long Bridge 
across the Potomac, the First New York Fire Zouaves 
entered Alexandria, V'a. As Colonel Ephraim Ells- 
worth, who had raised the regiment by request of 
President Lincoln, passed up the main street, he saw a 
Confederate flag Hying from the staff of the Marshall 
Hall. Ellsworth was a mere boy in years, but an 
ardent soldier. He came into prominence by organizing 
an independent corps of Zouaves in Chicago, which he 
drilled to such perfection that they created a furore 
throughout the Middle and New England States. 

Forgetting in his youthfulness that it was not the 
business of a Colonel to go to a roof and capture an 
enemy's flag (a Corporal or Sergeant should have been 
sent), he left the head of his column and ascended the 
stairs. Getting possession of the hated flag, Ellsworth 
descended with it in his arms. James W. Jackson, the 
proprietor of the hotel, was an ardent secessionist, and resented the intrusion of the 
boy Colonel. Wailing deliberately in the lower hall with a loaded musket, he shot 
Ellsworth, who fell dead on the spot. The Fire Zouave Colonel had been accompanied 
by Corporal Francis E. Brownell, who at once levelled his own weapon and avenged 
his loved commander by killing Johnson. 

The military operations of the opposing forces were now assuming definite shape. 
General Irwin McDowell was in command of the Federal army, confronting Beauregard, 
who stood at Manassas. General Patterson occupied Harper's I""erry with a strong body 
of United States volunteers, and faced General J. E. Johnson, who held possession of the 
Shenandoah \'alley with a formidable Southern army. General George B. McClellan had 
crossed the Ohio River into W^est Virginia and taken up a strong position. General 
Benjamin I*". Butler held I'ortress Monroe and Hampton Roads. General John B. 
Magruder commanding the Confederate forces on the York River and protecting York- 
town. The hounds of war were in leash, waiting to be loosed and tear one another. 

Meanwhile, many startling events had occurred. Gunpowder Bridge, between 
Baltimore and Philadelphia, had been burned by a mob, thus destroying the line of 
communication with W'ashington. Gosport Navy Yard, opposite Norfolk. \'a., was 
destroyed on April 20. This was one of the largest and best appointed naval stations in 
the United States. It had cost over twelve millions of dollars. Commodore Charles "S. 




K .n l'icKKN>, Sam A Rosa Island. Pensacola Bay, Fi.a,, i.v U. S. Fleet, .^ikii 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



39 




McCauley was in command, but 

was under the influence of his 

subordinate officers who were pre- 
paring to join the Confederacy. 

When Sumter fell, the Confederate 

Government began preparations 

for seizing the Gosport Yard, as 

it contained two thousand cannon 

and there were ten ships of war 

lying idle. It being evident that 

McCauley's procrastination would 

lead to the loss of the Yard, he was 

relieved by Captain Paulding, who 

with an extra force of marines, and 

Massachusetts Volunteers, was or- 
dered to defend the Yard. Finding 

this to be impossible in face of 

the Confederate demonstrations, 

Paulding set fire to the ships and 

property, his command evacuating 

in the attending confusion. But 

the flames failed to do the work, 

and all the munitions of war fell 

into the hands of the Confederates, 

with one or two of the war vessels 

that were not distroyed. They also seized Fort Norwalk with three hundred thousand 

pounds of powder and immense quantities of loaded shells placed in its magazine by 

Secretary Floyd. 

Those were busy April days. P^ort Sumter fell on the 14th, and Harper's Ferry was 

abandoned by the United States troops on the iSth. The Governor of the State of 

Virginia decided to take possession of the Ferry and military stores in the arsenal. 

Lieutenant Jones had only a corporal's guard at his command, so when he 

learned that the Virginia militia were advancing on him, he set fire to the build- 
ings and retreated across the bridge. The 
citizens followed the little party, but were 
halted by a threat from the Lieutenant 
that if they advanced he would give them 
a volley of musketry. 

Jones and his party reached Hagerstown, 
in Maryland, the following morning after 
floundering all night through the canals, 
swamps and creeks which are abundant 
along the eastern shore of the Upper 
Potomac. 

The Avar had now begun in dreadful earn- 
est. Men stared at one another in mute 
amazement, for the recruiting drum was 
in every street, the martial tread of regi- 
ments had pushed aside the peaceful com- 
merce of cities and towns. A few daj's 






40 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




before it was the frothy 
talk of politicians that 
agitated the people, now 
the roar of cannons 
and the vengeful mut- 
tering of angry musket- 
ry must continue the 
argument to the bitter 
end. Brother stoinl 
against brother, t li e 
father against son. All 
knew that the contest 
must be a terrible one, 
but neither the people 
of the North or South 
shrank from the pros- 
pect. With the Con- 
federate tlag tlying over the battered walls of Fort Sumter, Gosport Navy Yard in flames, 
and the arsenal at Harper's Ferry a mass of blackened and distorted ruins, the men and 
women on both sides of the sectional line saw that there could now^ be no definite peace 
until it was won at the point of the sword. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



41 








The First Battle of the War Fought at Big Bethel, June 10, 1861, 



CHAPTER IV. 



HOW THE BATTLE OF BIG BETHEL WAS FOUGHT AND LOST. 

The war between the North and the South will always be famous for the immense 
area of territory covered by its operations, but in the early part of 1861 it was believed, on 
both sides to the bitter quarrel, that a battle or two was all that would be necessary to 
decide the question whether the Union of the States was to stand, or be forever broken. 
This belief was another proof that the people of the two sections had entirely mistaken the 
character of their opponents, but under its influence the South devoted all its energies to 
the task of seizing the City of Washington, and consequently the scope of the Federal 
operations was confined to the East. All the Western States were responding nobly to the 
call for troops, but there seemed to be no present occasion for massing them in preparation 
for battle. They, however, held Kentucky and Missouri for the Union. 

With Federal armies at Harper's Ferry, in West Virginia, at Fortress Monroe and at 
Fairfax Court House and Centerville, the people of the North became impatient, and 
demanded a forward movement which, to them, meant a total annihilation of the rebellious 
troops in the held. The stay-at-homes in the South also fretted, for they wanted the 
question settled, that planting might go on. It has always been ver)- easy for men 
who have never donned the uniform to plan campaigns on paper with the certainty of 
victory at their close, but the task is vastly different when it comes to practice, not theory. 

The first engagement between Northern and Southern soldiers occurred on June 3, 
1861, at Philippi JunctionV-.-n Western Virginia. It was a very small aft'air, compared with 



42 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



43 




subsequent battles, but it made a decided sensation at the time. Brigadier-General 
T. A. Morris, having ascertained that the Confederates, under Colonel Porterfield, had 
taken possession of the Junction, thus imperilling the Baltimore and Ohio and Northwestern 

Railroads, he sent two columns from Grafton, con- 
sisting of detachments from the First \'irginia, the 
Sixth, Seventh and Ninth Indiana, Fourteenth and 
Sixteenth Ohio, with a section of Burnett's Ohio 
Battery. One column was under Colonel B. P. 
Kelley, of the First Virginia, and the other under 
Colonel E. Dumont, of Indiana. Dumont was the 
first to arrive, Kelly being misled by his guide, but 
the Federal movement was a complete surprise. A 
curious fact connected with this affair was that the 
first shot was fired by a woman, who discharged 
her revolver at Colonel F. W. Lander, of General 
McClellan's staff, as he rode past her house. The 
Confederates were driven from their cami? b)- Bur- 
nett's guns, and Colonel Kelley, coming up just 
then, pursued them through the streets. Kelle)' 
was dangerously wounded by a bullet in his breast, 
and he was made a Brigadier-General. But, like all 
such preliminary affairs, it had no result, for both 
Confederates and Federals abandoned the Junction. 
Exactly one week after the Philippi skirmish, June lO, 




COL. B. F. KELLEY. 



44 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




CAMP OF I4TH ; 



General Butler ordered a movement on Big Bethel, 
but it ended in defeat for the Federals. The 
importance of tlie battle was greatly exaggerated, 
the South being highly elated, while the North 
was depressed, but it had no real influence on the 
final result. As the author carried a musket at 
Big Bethel, he intends to describe it as he and his 
comrades saw it, not as historians imagine it was like. 
The Fifth New York Regiment had been in 
camp near Hampton Creek, behind Fortress Mon- 
roe, for o\-er four weeks, and the boys were growing 
tired of so much drill. Colonel Abram Duryee 
had secured, as his second in command, Gouverneur 
K. Warren, a distinguished engineer ofificer of the 
Regular Army, who subsequently rose to the rank 
of Major-General and an important command. 
Duryee had been Colonel of the famous New 
York Seventh, he was a military student and a drill master. We were drilled by 
company every morning after breakfast, and before dinner time, and in the afternoon even 
at dress parade. It was hard work, but it strengthened our muscles and improved our 
health, but the boys did not like it all the same. They had come out to fight and ever}'- 
body was anxious to see a battle. God knows, we saw enough of them before the war ended. 
A rumor got into circulation about the 3d or 4th of June that something was going to 
happen. Old soldiers know how readily camp rumors are started, but in this case it was 
founded on fact. We knew that a Confederate force was entrenched on a creek on the 
York Road, some ten or fifteen miles from Fortress Monroe, and a few had seen the 
works. Captain Judson C. Kilpatrick, of our Company H, who subsequently became one 
of the famous cavalry generals of the war, had come out to our picket post one morning 
and selecting me and two other Zouaves, took us on a reconnaissance. I remember 
thinking it great fun at the time, and did "Kil," but it was really a silly proceeding, as 
the General confessed one day when we talked about it a )ear or two after. We got 

to about a mile from Little Bethel 
and saw a pile of freshly turned 
earth, and then we also turned and 
reached our lines as wise as when 
we started. 

Sunday, the 9th of June, passed 
off quietly. There had been no 
drills, and the dress parade was a 
success. Then when the men were 
falling in for supper, the orderly 
sergeants announced that when 
bedtime came, ever)" man was to 
sleep in his shoes and socks, and 
our belt boxes were filled to their 
full capacity with buck and ball 
cartridges. 

" We are going to march in the 
early morning," said the Sergeant, 
"so get all the sleep you can, boys." 




FAIRFAX COUKT-HOUSE, 



THE MEJfORlAL WAR BOOK. 



45 



If our officers had intended to keep the men wide awake they could not have 
devised a better plan, for scarcely an eye was closed during the night. We conversed 
in whispers, while lying on our blankets in the tents, until we could stand it no longer. 
One by one we gathered around the company hres so that when orders came about eleven 
o'clock to get under arms they were quickly obeyed. There was very little ceremony in 
o-ettin<^'" in line and we were soon moving up the road. There was no moon, but the stars 
crave sufficient light to keep us from tumbling over each other. Word was passed down the 
column to maintain silence, as the movement was intended to be a surprise. It turned out 
to be one, but we had it, not the enemy. The boys kept very mum for nearly half an 
hour as if they really believed that the Confederates could hear their voices at the distance 



¥^'u 





, -fff^Va r, --.i r I] 



;i:^^ ' t-fe^^^r 




of ten or twelve miles. Rut human natuie could stand it no longer and we chatted 
among ourselves, but in subdued voices. 

There was one thing connected with the war that was peculiar and it continued 
throughout its progress. The men in the ranks always had their own ideas how 
operations should be carried on, and criticised their commanders in the most fearless 
manner. The first thing we wanted to know was what other troops were going to help us, 
for while we naturally supposed that our regiment was, of course, to do the principal part of 
the fighting, we expected that there would be enough to go round. First the men asked 
the Sergeants, the latter pestered the Captains and they in turn pumped the Colonel. Then 
the news drifted back that the Albany regiment under Colonel Townsend, the New York 
Steuben Rifles under Colonel Bendix, and a part of the First Vermont and the Third 
Massachusetts had been ordered out. Where these commands were just then, no one 
knew. Somebody said they must be following us, others had heard that there were more 
troops on ahead. 



46 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




GENERAL lOHN 



We trotted alon^- in hiyh spirits, 
for we were all )oun^ and in splendid 
health, and now that a real battle was to 
be fouL,dit, the war woiikl soon be over 
and there need be no more of those 
vexations drills. Alas, one half of the 
fine felh)ws who were marching through 
the sand that warm Sunday night, laid 
down their lives on many a field during 
the next two \ears. I remember that 
I thought it was curious to see how 
hungrj- everybody about me had be- 
come, for scarcely a man in the ranks 
was not munching biscuits as he plod- 
ded along, encumbered by knapsack 
and musket. 

As we subsequently ascertained, the 
movement was under the direction of 
Brigadier-General Pierce, of Massachu- 
setts, and it had been planned that we 
Zouaves were to make a detour and 
being the first to start, finally reach 
the rear of the Confederate force. The 

regiments under Colonels Bendix and Townsend were to act as reserves, while the 
Massachusetts and \'ermont boys were to make the direct attack. Xo doul)t it looked 
well on paper, but somehow it did not work quite as "old Contraband Butler," as we 
youngsters nicknamed him, thought it would. \\"e had started at midnight and marched 
along until after two o'clock, yet saw no sign of either the front or the rear of the 
Confederate line, and it looked as though some mistake had been make in the road. 

This idea seemed to be the correct one, for just then there was an awful crash of 
musketry in our rear. The order to halt was given and then there was another \olley, so 
about face we went and on the double quick started for the supposed scene of battle. In 
about half an hour we were halted by a staff officer who said that the Albany regiment, 
while coming up on one road, had struck that occupied by the Steuben RiHes. The 
Dutchmen mistook Townsend's command for the Confederates and without waiting for 
orders, opened fire. Of course the Albany men were not going to be shot at for nothing, 
so they pitched into the Germans. By this time the Vermont and Massachusetts 
Volunteers had also fallen back and the entire force now lay massed in the main road. 

There was no use expecting to make the movement a surprise, after the awful 
mistake that had cost nearly a dozen lives. I had forgotten all about being hungry by this 
tune, and as we sat beside the road waiting for orders, I noticed that there seemed to be 
considerable confusion. Horsemen galloped to and fro ; groups of officers consulted, \ct 
nothing was done until almost daylight, when we were re-formed and set in motion. It 
was then announced that as General Pierce had come out for a fight he wasn't going 
back without having one. We all agreed that this Avas very good of the General, for Tt 
showed he had the right kind of stuff in him. None of 'the boys wanted to see camp 
without having had a brush with the enemy, for we longed to fire our muskets and kill 
somebod)-. 

As the sun rose news ran along the column that Little Bethel had been abandoned by 
the advance line of the Confederates, which had fallen back on the main body at Big 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



4? 



Bethel. There was never a happier set of youny fellows as were our Zouaves on 
learning this, for it showed that the enemy was afraid of us, and it would be all the more 
glorious to whip the whole force at once. But as it turned out we did nothing of the kind. 
We made cpiite an imposing appearance by daylight and we were glad to find that 
artillery had been included in our offensive strength. All knew that Lieutenant Greble 




was a gallant officer, and it was certain he would do good service. As we reached the 
straggling village of Little Bethel, a line of skirmishers was thrown out, and the column 
pushed forward. There was no opposition, for the place was empty. For no good reason 
that I could see, orders were given to burn the village, and it was soon in flames. Our 
regiment had scarcely passed through the street, when dropping shots were heard in 
advance, and it was evident that we had at last struck General Magruder's forces. Then 
a sudden discharge of cannon broke the silence, and a shell flew over our heads. There 



48 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



was considerable bowing and scrapinj,' to tlic \ isitor, for we were not )ct used to such 
thinijs. As the skirmishers fell back and reported a masked battery, our line was formed. 
The German regiment, with the X'erniont and Massachusetts men, filed off to the right of 
the road into a thick clump of woods, the I'ifth and th(> Albany regiment were sent across 
some open tields into an apple orchard, while C.relile and his battery occupied the road, to 
reply to the Confederate cannon that was now working rapidly. I noticed that at that 
time all their shells Hew high, probably intended to worry our su])ports, though we had 
none. We were told that the Zouaves were to llank the cnenn . 

I he Coniederates liad taken up 
a position on the left bank of the 
Black River, and had thrown \\\) 
earthworks guarding the road, and, 
as we found out to our cost, there 
was a line ot intrenchments along 
the edge of a swamp which pre- 
vented our doing any flanking, 
riiey had some eighteen hundred 
men, while we had fully three 
thousand, but as they possessed 
tw(.'nt\' pieces of hea\-y ordinance 




HOME'iTEAI). 




and an entriMiched position, the 
Confederates had decidedly the 
best of it. As we reached the out- 
skirts of the swamp a Aolley of 
musketry burst from the banks of 
green boughs which concealed the 
enemy's l)n;ast\vorks antl a few 
men fell. I could also hear vol- 
leys on our right, the Dutchmen 
having opened again without seeing 
anvthing to shoot at. Lieutenant 

, - '^ wi.v_llcUlL r.ROl'l' OF SOLDIERS, N. V. JIST. 

treble now began a rapid fire, ami 

so well dill his men serve their guns that the Confederate's clung to their earthworks. While 
we were blazing away Lieutenant Colonel Warren came up ami angrily stoi)ped us, and 
we were ordered to lie down. 

1 he cannonading by the opposing guns went on f"or nearl\- two hours, ami we began 
wondering if there would be anything' for the infantry to do. .\ change of position 
was then made. Colonel 'I'ownsend being sent to the right, and thi: first and second 
\ew \ork Regiments, who had come up unexpectedly, were sent somewhere out of 
sight. I afterwards learned that C.eneral Pierce wanted them to get to the rear of 
Magruder's position. Then orders were given to advance and charge. .\wa\ we 
went, pellmell, and forced our way close up to the breastworks, and I thought we were 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



49 



doing splentliclly when orders came to fall 
back, which we did very unwillingly, though 
nearly all of our ammunition was gone. 
There was now a great deal of confusion, 
as Colonel Townsend had retreated before 
a part of his own command, mistaking it for 
the enemy. As we entered the road tin- 
Germans passed us, nearly every man swear- 
ing guttural oaths. 

My company happened to be detatched 
from the line, and as we struck "across lots'' 
to join the regiment, we came to the spot 
where Lieutenant Greble's battery was stand- 
ing. Nearly all the gunners were disabled and 
the Lieutenant lay dead in the dust, his head 
having been shattered by a cannon ball. We 
then discovered a party of Confederates creep- 
ing up, evidently hoping to capture the guns. 
We held them back with the few cartridges 
left in our pouches, and Greble's body was 
carried to the rear, while the Germans assisted 
in saving the guns. What struck me as very 
odd was that none of our boys seemed dazed 
or much excited, and from that day to this I 
have been a firm believer in constant drillint 
while using their weapons in dead earnest. 

Well, there is little more to tell, except an extraordinary act of reckless bravery 
which cost the perpetrator his life. While the several regiments were being mustered 
together in anticipation of falling back altogether. Major Theodore WInthrop, General 
Butler's military secretary, and an old member of the New York Seventh, coolly walked 
down the road, and, going beyond the battery position, took a look at the enemy's line. 




camp, for it keeps the men together 





CAPTAIN JUDSON C. KILPATRICK 



50 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Several shots were fired, and he fell dead where he stood. An effort was niaile to get his 
body, but tlu.- men were called hack, though it was suhsetjuenth- sent in by (ic-neral 
Mafrutler. When we reaclu'd camp, it was announced that sixteen men liad Ijecn killed, 
fifty-three wounded and five were missing. Hoth Cicneral 1 Sutler and (Jeneral Pierce were 
bitterl)- censured, but the soldiers wt-re praised to the skies for bravery though, as 
subsecjuent e.\perience taught us, we hatl not done much to brag of. That was the end 
of the first pitched battle of the war, but it was soon forgotten in the presence of more 
stirring events. 

Now that so man\- )ears havt- t:lapst-d since these earl)- battles were: fought, it seems 
remarkable that the .\mericans, North and .South, though inexperienced in the art of war, 




(killed I.N THE BATTLE AT BIG BETHEL.) 
COLONEL BENDIX, 



rapidly learneil how to conduct themselves in the field. It should ])e riinembered that 
when the guns in Charleston 1 1 arbor woke the angry dogs of war, \ery few of the men who 
went to the front really knew just what army life Avas like. The merchant closed his 
ledger, and the lawyer threw aside his brief, to enter the ranks. The clerk exchanged his 
yardstick for a ramrod, the printer his shooting-stick for a nnisket. Men who had 
handled the rammer in foundries took it to the muzzle of a cannon, the carpenter gave up 
his saw and plane for the sabre of a cavalryman. The farmer boy threw away his pitchfork 
fora bayonet, and learned that shooting birds in tht' orchard was vastly different from being 
shot at by long lines of death-dealing muskets. N'ct in the short space of three or four 
months these Northern and Southern Americans so quickly adaptetl themsehes to a soldier's 
life, that they became the admiration of the entire civilized world. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



SI 







<,,-,, JUUN I'tGKAM. 



CHAPTER V. 

THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN AND SUBSEQUENT FEDERAL ROUT. 

Nothing more was done for a month after the Big Bethel affair, greatly to 
astonishment of the people on both sides of the conflict. Then General McClellan, 

from fifteen to twenty thousand men, struck the enemy at | , — __^- — . 

Rich Mountain in West Virginia, having previously had two | 
severe skirmishes at Bealington and Carrick's Ford, the latter 
occurring in a heavy rain storm. The 
battle between the forces of Garnett 
and McClellan was a hot one while 
it lasted. It occurred on July lo, and 
the Confederates were defeated with 
a loss of four hundred men, killed 
and wounded. They also lost all their 
cannons, ammunition, tents and camp 
equipage. General Pegram added to 
the disaster by surrendering to Gen- 
eral Morris, on July 14, Garnett 
having been killed. General Cox, 
meanwhile, repulsed Wise's forces in 
the Kanawha Valley, and- captured 



the 
with 




KOS£CRANZ. 



THE JifEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Barboursvillc. The result was that 
the Confederates evacuated Har- 
per's Ferry and the greater part 
of Western \'irginia. 

Then began the movement in 
the X'irginia Valley. On Jul) 15, 
General McDowell received in- 
structions to attack the Confed- 
erates at Manassas Junction, while 
General Patterson, who command- 
ed in the Shenandoah Valley, was 
ordered to prevent Joseph E. 
Johnston, the Confederate Cien- 
eral, from reinforcing Beauregard. 
He failed to do this and the result 
was disastrous 
tt) the Federal 
amis. 

( )n the morn- 
ing of July i(d, 
McDowell's 
troops moved 
forward. A large 
portion of his 
command were 
ninety-da) men 
and their time 
had almost ex- 
pired, and this 
fact ex pi ai n s 





■':'«*» 




•■ [DERATE. fORTIrlCArjONS ^"^rr^J^ 



X 



part of w hat 
happened. The 
force under 
Beauregard was 
a little over 
t w e n t )■ - fi v e 
thousand, while 
McDowell had 
fully thirty thou- 
sand, the two 
largest armies in 
the field at that 
time. The Fed- 
erals were in 
four divisions 
under Brigadier-General Tyler, 
Colonels Heintzelman, Runyon, 
Miles and Hunter. The Con- 
federates fell back from Fairfax 
Court House, which elated the 
Federals. On July 18, there was 
a hot fight at Blackburn's Ford, 
which was lirought about by 
Ixler trying to march straight to 
Manassas. The Confederates, 
however, had carefully laid their 
plans, and Tyler was met by a 
strong force which compelled him 
to retire with loss. McDowell 
then discovered that his lontr line 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



S3 




of attack would not do, so fell back to Centreville, some of his troops, meanwhile, leavintj 
him on the expiration of their term of service. On Sunday, July 21, McDowell began 
what is known in history, on the Federal side, as the Battle 
of Bull Run, the Confederates calling- it Manassas. The 
list of leading officers on both sides was a remarkable 
one, for they all became famous in subsequent campaigns. 
There was Beauregard, Longstreet, Wheat, " Stonewall " 
Jackson and Johnston on the Confederate side, while 
McDowell, Sherman, Heintzel- 
man. Miles, Burnside, Keyes, 
Ayres, Howard and Hunter were 
on the Federal lines. Here is a 
description of the movement and 
battle as given me in 1863, by a 
regular officer who participated 
in it, and subsequently rose to 
high rank : 

"You must remember that 
when McDowell was getting 
ready, he was sadly hampered 
by the Washington people. Of 
course you know what I mean. 
The President knew about as 
much about real war as that con- 
traband of mine who is rubbing 
down your horse. Lincoln is a 
great man and he has learned a 




GARNETT, C. S. 
TTLE OF CARKICK 



great deal more about 
strategy since Bull Run 
than even some of us 
denerals are willing to 
give him credit for. He 
had dear old Scott at his 



54 



THE yrEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




PATTERSON. 



elbow, who listened to a lot of youiijj fellows 

not long out of West Point, and between them 

they sadly bothered McDowell. Besides that, 

we were all pretty green, for none of us had 

ever seen thirty thousand men under arms on 

a single field. Even Sherman himself, or 

Howard, or .Ayres will tell you that we felt 

somewhat awed by the big army we belonged to. 
" But you want me to tell you about Bull 

Run. Well, Tyler's division, with Acres' and 

Carlisle's batteries, movetl out along the War- 

renton turnpike road. They were to get to 

the Stone Bridge by four o'clock and opcm 

a feint attack, while Hunter and Heintzelman 

were to make the direct assault,they being sent 

on a wide detour through a wood road to cross 

Cub Run and come out somewhere near Sudley 

Church, which would bring them in Beaure- 
gard's rear. Miles was left in reserve at 

Centreville, then our extreme left, while Keyes 

watched the Manassas road. It was a very 

pretty plan and would have succeeded, had 

not Johnston and " Stonewall " Jackson spoiled 

our game. The death of the latter at Chancellorsville was a big loss to the Confederates. 
" It is a curious fact that Beauregard contemplated taking the offensive on the same 

day, but we were ahead of him. If we had known that Johnston's advance column had 

already joined Beauregard, our hopes of success would not have run so high. Tyler began 

in time, and made so good an impression with his artillery, that the Confederates believed 

it was the main body of our troops, hut they soon ascertained that McDowell intended 

mischief somewhere else, so there was a change of position. The divisions under Hunter 

and Heintzelman en- 
countered unexpect- 
ed difficulties and 
were delated, so when 
they attacked, ou r I i ne 
was not in good shape 
and it encountered a 
force greater than 
either Hunter or 
Heintzelman could 
present. 

"It was McDowell's 
misfortune to be cho- 
sen forhigh command 
at the very beginning 
of the war. He is a 
brave and capable of- 
ficer, but the people 
of the North de- 
manded too much 




THE BULL RUN, 



777^ MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



SS 




when we first entered the field, so because 

Mac could not whip forty or fifty thousand 

men with less than twenty, he was turned 

down, and hasn't had much of a show 

since. We made a handsome appearance 

on starting out, and I never saw men in 

better spirits. As you may remember, the 

movement began at two o'clock in the morn- 
ing. The men had not yet learned the 

necessity of caution, and the Volunteer 

officers did not see any harm in the lioys 

building huge campfires before starting out. 

The sudden increase of light along our line 

about midnight, of course aroused the atten- 
tion of the Confederates, and they were quite 

ready for us when we began. There was 

another fact that should be remembered. 

The South had been organizing and drilling 

for this war, long before you or I voted for 

Lincoln. Beauregard had been in command 

for months before our levies were raised, 

and he had under him the choicest blood of 

the .South. No wonder that, being on their 

own ground, and in double our strength, 

and better drilled in brigade and division movements, they won the day. It was a costly 

victory, though, as we now know, for it so intoxicated the South that the scope of these 

hostile operations was immediately spread over a vast area of country. 

" I am not trying to give you a description of the battle of Bull Run, for like most 

soldiers, 1 saw only my own part, but now that we have seen so much service, and lost so 

many different commanding generals, 1 can perceive how and why the day was lost. It 

was not for want of bravery. No men 
fought better than ours, until it was discovered 
that we were really fighting three times our 
strength. McDowell intended to turn the 
Confederate left and seize the Manassas Gap 
Railroad which lay in their rear. This was 
to prevent Johnston joining Beauregard. He 
had, of course, no idea that by Patterson's 
blunder the junction had already been made. 
The real fighting began when Burnside's 
brigade, which led Hunter's column, reached 
some open fields. Evans, who was opposing 
him, was well posted, and opened a sharp, 
ilestructive fire, cutting up the Second Rhode 
Island and killing Slocum, their Colonel. 
While Burnside was staggering in front of 
these fierce volleys, Colonel Edward Porter's 
lirigade began forming, while Griffin's bat- 
icrytook position and he made his guns bark 
to some purpose. El vans was reinforced by 




56 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 










General Bee, who was killed during the day, which began turning the tide of battle. Then 
Sykesand his Regulars were hurried up and matters grew more even, the batteries of Captains 
Griffin and Ricketts doing most excellent service with shell and grape at short range, but 

the fighting was really of a desperate char- 
acter, though the Confederate artillery hav- 
ing a better position cut us very badly. It 
was then that Slocum fell and Hunter was 
carried off the field wounded. 

" I began to think that we were outnum- 
bered, when Sherman's brigade came up, 
having forced its way across the Stone 
Bridge. Just then I was surprised to see 
the enemy breaking away. Shennan's men, 
the Thirteenth, Sixty-ninth and Seventy- 
ninth New \'ork Militia, being fresh, were 
ordered to pursue the Confederates who 
were now falling back towards Sudley's 
Springs road. You must now understand 
that we had successfully carried out 
McDowell's plan by turning Beauregard's 
left. We had uncovered the Stone Bridge 
and pushed the enemy back for over a 
mile. But the ^^f0^ was to come, for as 
the Conf^T^lNftes reached the jjlateau they 
found lackson's brigade standing there, so 
quickly reformed, and met us with a blinding 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



57 



volley. We made several charges, the Fire Zouaves acting splendidly for they saved 
Griffin's and Rickett's batteries, but the enemy grew stronger instead of weakening and 
we had to fall back. 




" You must remember that by these operations McDowell had got only thirteen 
thousand men into battle, none of the reserves having crossed Bull Run. That was 
his error, for while Beauregard and Johnston were bringing fresh men to the front, 





BVT. MAJ. GENERA 



ss 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




McDowell failed to see the necessity tor sentliiii;' in Miles, Burnside {\\\\o had been 
withdrawn), or Keyes. Had they come up, the result mii^ht have been different. Then 
came the final blow. We had been 
fighting for several hours when the 
Confederates [)ushcil forward all their 
reserves and made a fierce attack on 
our right, finally turning our flank and 
gettin>r into our rear. I shall not soon 





forget the scene. Shells were coming in from 
all points of the compass and men were fall- 
ing every moment. It was evident that we 
were outgeneraled, and our men became 
l)anic-stricken, there was a sudden break in 
the line and the next minute terrible confusion. Heintzelman was furious, and as he 
chanced to have a few Regular Cavalrv near him, he bravelv tried to make a .stand, but it 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



59 





S 



1^^ tlr'^Wv '1^^..-*^ - #4^^ 

RiTTT r OR Riii.f. RiTN Tin V ■>» iRfir. 



ha 



Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1 

was no use, for the whole Federal arm)' was retreating. Our retreat was most disorderl)', 
even worse than that when we recrossed the Rappahannock after Chancellorsville. \ ou 
can have no idea of the inextricable confusion. Brigades and regiments melted away, 
the wagon trains blocked the roads, and even the batteries lost their formation. Had 
the Confederates made a vigorous pursuit, God knows what the result might 

been. But they 

were so elated by 

success that I sup- 
pose the idea of 

marching straight 

forWashingtondid 

not enter their 

minds imtil it was 

too late. They 

contented them- 
selves by sending 

P! a r 1 )• ' s brigade, 

but it was soon 

stopped by Porter 

and Blenker on 

the Warren ton 

road, and so we 

were not fur- 
ther molested. I 





6o 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



rciiKMiilicr seeing- Sherman while we fell back. Tecumseh's face was pale with mortification 
and anther, as he tried to keep the men around him in some sort of order. Ikit it was of no 
use, for the different commands had 
got so mingled and mi.\ed up you 
could have got representatives of 
almost every regiment, at any point 
on the road. 1 was sent to Wash- 
ington with dispatches, but fouiul 
the news had gone ahead of me, so 
I got away again as cjuickly as 1 
could, because it was not a pleasant 
place to be in." 

In describing the rout at Bull 
Run, Cieneral William Tecumseh 
Sherman (who was then a Colour! 
in command of a brigade) says in 
his memoirs : " Vox two hours we 
continued to dash 
at the wootls on 
ou r left front, 
which were full ot 
rebels ; but I was 
convinced their 
organization was 
broken, and that 
they had simply 
halted there and 
taken advantage 
of these woods as 
a cover, to reach 
which we had to 





pass over the inter- 
vening fields about 
the Henry House, 
which were clear, 
open, and gave them 
a decided ad\an- 
tage. After I had 
put in each of my 
regiments, antl had 
them driven back to 
the cover of the 
road, I had no idea 
that we were beaten, 
but re-formed the 
regiments in line in their proper 
order, and only wanted a little rest, 
when I found that m\- brigade was 
almost alone, e.xcept Syke's regulars, 
who had formed scjuare against 
cavalr\-, and were coming back. 
Manv officers were reported dead 
or missing, and the wounded were 
making their way, with more or less 
assistance, to the buildings used as 
hospitals, on the ridge to the west. 
Wesucceedeil in partially reftirming 
the regiments, but it was manifest 
that they would not stand, and I 
directed Colonel Corcoran to move along the ridge to the rear, near the position where 
we had first formed the brigade. General McDowell was there in person, and used all 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



6i 




62 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




possible efforts to reassure the 
men. By the active exertions 
of Colonel Corcoran, we formed 
an irregular scjuare against the 
cavalry, which were then seen to 
issue from the position from 
which we had been driven, and 
we began our retreat toward the 
same ford of Bull Run by which 
we had approached the field of 
battle. There was no positive 
order to retreat, although for an 
hour it had been going on by the 
operation of the men themselves. 
About nine o'clock at night I 
received from General Tyler, in 
person, the order to continue the 
suDLEvs FORD. BULL Ri N. Tetrcat to the Potomac. This 

retreat was by night and disor- 
derly in the e.xtreme. The men of different regiments mingled together, and some 
reached the river at Arlington, some at Long Bridge, and the greater part returned to 
their former camp, at or near Fort Corcoran. I reached this point at noon the next day, 
and found a miscellaneous crowd crossing over the aqueduct and ferries. Conceiving this 
to be demoralizing, I at once commanded the guard to be increased, and all persons 
attempting to pass over to be stopped. This soon produced its effect. Men sought their 
proper companies and regiments. Comparative order was restored, and all were posted to 
the best advantage." 

The defeat at Bull Run was a severe blow to the pride of the Northern people, but 
the lessons of adversity have their usefulness, so the North sat down to repair the disa.ster 
with full determination to begin again, and more persistently. Another call for troops was 
made, McClellan replaced McDowell and set himself the task of forming the Army of the 
Potomac. In the South, an intoxication of vanity prevailed. Beauregard was promoted to 
the highest rank in the Confederate Service, cannon salutes were fired in Richmond, 
Charleston, New Orleans, and other 
.Southern cities. Jefferson Davis made 
a speech from the balcony of the 
-Spottswood House, declaring that the 
Confederate States had already se- 
cured their independence. But the 
war had really only begun, these few 
battles were simply the overture to a 
struggle which was to last for four 
long years, and make desolate a large 
area of territory, besides the sacrifice 
of thousands upon thousands of lives 
on both siiU's of the theatre of opera- 
tions. At Bull Run the Federals lost 
four hundred and eighty-one killed 
and two thousand four hundred and 
seventy-one wounded and missing. 




SUDLEY S CHURCH, BULL RUN. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



63 





besides twenty-seven cannon, nine flags, and four thousand muskets. The Confederate 
loss was three hundred and seventy-eight killed, and fourteen hundred and eighty-nine 
wounded. The P'ederals became hardened and defiant, the Confederates were vain- 
glorious, boastful and over-confident. The victory at Bull Run was really a dear one, 
as all Southern Generals have since confessed, and so history records it. 




64 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 





f.jSiii 


^^^KKm^^^^-^^f^SmA 


:J:^^^l-!l^-_J^i . 


Wl^^f^^ t-.v-'rV^^S 


F'rr'asr:^^!! ■iiiimi 






A^ 



IDuE NtAK l^UTO.MAL. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE SF.CTIOXS (;IRI)I\(; TliKlR l.dlNS l(iR ^r()KTAI. STRUGGLE. 



President Lincoln's call for half a million more men, who were to serve three years, 
was met with the same alacrity as displaj-ed at the initial call. While these new regiments 
were forming, the volcano of war began disturbing the Southwest. Several unimportant 
skirmishes occurred in Kentucky and Missouri, which prevented those States joining the 
Confederacy. The sudden increase in the Federal strength necessitated the appointment 

of a sufficient number of Brigadier-Generals 
and Major-Generals, and many of the men 
who were to stamp their names on the pages 
of history received commissions. Garnett, 
the Confederate General, having been killed 
at Rich Mountain ; Floyd, who, as Buchanan's 
War Secretar)', had armed the Confederate 
troops, took his place. He attempted to drive 
the P'ederals out of Ohio, while General Lee, 
who then appeared on the scene for the first 
time, undertook to scatter Rosecranz's army 
in West Virginia. The plan of operations 
had been sketched out by Lee, but Floyd 
was too confident, and burned to distinguish 
himself. Wise failing to join F"loyd, the latter 
was outnumbered, as Rosecranz hastened to 
Co.x's relief. A battle took place at Powell 
Mountain, on August lo, and might have been 
a decided Federal victory had Rosecranz shown 
less caution. Lee also failed to carry out his 
part of the programme, so was sent to South 
Carolina. Neither the North or the South 
had any patience with unsuccessful generals. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



65 




Then there was another hill, though the Federals 
and Confederates faced each other in strong force 
along the course of the Potomac River, between 
Washington and Harper's Ferry. Both of these bodies 
of troops were dancing around, neither knowing much 
about what the other was doing. McClellan, besides 
being the commander of the new army of the Potomac, 
was understood to be also General-in-Chief, as Lieu- 
tenant-General Winfield Scott had retired from active 
service by permission of the President. 

Up to this time military discipline in the Northern 
or Southern armies had not attained that degree of 
efficiency so necessary in actual war. When the Battle 
of Bull Run had been fought and apparently won, 
many of the men from North Carolina, Georgia and 
\'irginia coolly dropped their muskets and walked 
home. They supposed that having whipped the 
"Yanks," as the Confederates styled the Northern 
troops all through the war, there was no further need ..tNEiUA, wish, c. ^. a. 

of their services. A more thoroughly astonished set of men never existed when they 
found themselves arrested, one by one, by provost guards and marched back to their 
regiments. The men of the North, being accustomed to the discipline of the bank, 
store or workshop, proved more amenable to the rigors of military command, but still 
desertion was not considered a very heinous offense, and, as General Sherman once said 
to me, some of the men who ran from Bull Run are probably running still. At all events 
the large number of men reported as "missing" at that engagement is due to this 
fact. 

The writer was one of a recruiting party sent back to New York after the Battle of Big 
Bethel, and we were having a good time, posing as heroes, when the Bull Run disaster 
occurred. Three days after the battle I was going down Broadway with a squad of recruits, 
to have them sworn in, when a long, lanky individual, dressed in regulation soldier's 
uniform, met us. 

" I say, Corporal," he drawled, "whar do I get the 
train for Albany ? " 

" What are you going to Albany for?" I asked. 
" Why, Fm going home of course." 
" Home? are you sick or wounded ?" 
" Sick, that's what I am. I was at that thar Bull 
Run fight, and Fm sick enough, I tell ye." 
" How did you get to New York ?" 
" Rode on the train, of course. 1 had to walk ll. 
Washington, and that was enough of that'for me." ' 

" But didn't they ask you for a pass on the 
train ?" I demanded, for discipline had become nretjty 
stiff with us at Fortress Monroe, where I had orhe 
from. 

" ^'es, a fellow with a sword keni aboard at Wihning- 
ton, and he says to me, says he, ' Hev ye a pass ?' and I 
says to him, says I, 'Yes,' and he went on. But I didn't 
hev no pass, nuther." 




66 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




" \\ ell, \()ii conic 
with nic and \vc 
will (i\ yon all 
ri^^lil," said 1 and 
he ol)i-ycd ([nilt- 
cheerful]). 

While ni\- re- 
criiits were strij)- 
pini;- in another 
room for t!u-ir])hys- 
ical examination !))• 
the Regular Ami)- 
surgeon, I took the 
man l)efore Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Kl- 
lis, the regular 
officer who was 
superintentlint^- the 



for a spell, so 1 got on a train 



recruiting. On my explaining the situation to him, Colonel Ellis frowned, then laughed 
heartily. "What regiment do \ou lielong to m\- man ?" asked the Lieutenant-Colonel. 
"Second X'arniount." 

"And you were at Hull Run ?" 

"Yes, and a hell of a time, we had thar too." 

"Do you know that you are a deserter ?" 

"Deserter? Do you mean that I hev nm away ?" 

" I mean that, having left your regiment on the field of battle without leave, you have 
deserted your colors, broken \-our oath to faithfully serve the United States Government, 
and you can be shot to death for the crime. That's the rule in Avar." 

" Now see here, Kurnel, Lm no deserter. The regiment deserted me. Leastways 
we all got kinder mixetl up, antl nobtxly knew nolKuly, and as one of the fellers sed the 
orders was to go to \\'ashington, I jist went along with the rest. When we trot thar, 
some of the boys sed as how wt? might as well go home 
and here I am. When I've seen mother, and let her see I 
wasn't killed, Lm going back again." 

" But that will not be right, or honest," said the 
Lieutenant-Colonel kintll)-, " Don't )()u see that if v\vx\ 
man in your regiment had starteil for home, as you 
have done, there wouldn't be an)- .Second \'ermont left to 
fight the Rebs?" 

" That's a fact. I didn't think of that. See here, 
I'm going back to Washington and jinc; the boy.s. Maybe 
they'll get into another battle before- I get back, anil I 
wouldn't like that, nohow." 

" How mail)- of the boys came with )-ou on the train?" 

" Guess thar whar a dozen or so." 

" Do you know where they are?" 

" Well, they sed they was agoing up the Hudson 
River Railroad, but we got scattered, and I got kinder lost." 

" Now if this Corporal goes with you to the depot, 
will you tell the boys they have done wrong, anti then 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



67 



you can all go back and join the regiment together? You know )-ou can write to mother, 
anci not be a deserter." 

"So I can. I'm obleeged to you Kurnel, for telHng me how things stand. When I 
vokmteered up at Burhngton, I wanted to do my duty, but yer see this soldering business 
is kinder new to me, and I haint exactly got the holt of it yet." 

That afternoon the \'ermonter and I had found ten of his comrades as io-norant as 




J. (Stonewall) Ja 



himself regarding military duty. When the matter was explained, they shouldered their 
muskets, for though each man had thrown away his knapsack, he had clung to his weapon. 
When the squad was paraded before Colonel Ellis, he talked kindly to them, and appointing 
our tall friend a Brevet-Corporal, gave them an order for transportation and rations, and 
sent them to Washington, unguarded. 



68 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



"Oh, they'll go back safe enough," said Colonel Ellis, when a brother officer suggested 
a iTuard. " I would not hurt their feelings by so disgracing them. Those fellows will 
never skedaddle again. It was pure innocence on their part, rest assured." 

Hut the officers on guard duty at Wilmington were curtly informal that passes must 
be shown by the soldiers, and no more such nonsense would be permilted. Cieneral 
Sherman, in his interesting personal memoirs, relates an anecdote of a similar character: — 
"One niorninir I found myself in a crowd of men crossing the drawbridge on their way to 
a barn close by, where they had their sinks; among them was an officer, who said: 
'Colonel, I am going to New York to-day. What can 1 do for xou ?' I answered : ' How 
can )-ou goto New York? I do not remember to have signed a lea\e for )ou.' He said. 




' No ; he did not 
/ant a leave. He had 
engaged to serve three 
months, antl had already 
ser\ed more than that time. 
If the Government did not 
intentl to pay him, he could 
afford to lose the money ; 
that he was a lawyer, and had 
neglected his business long enough, 
and was then going home.' I 
noticed that a good many of the 
soldiers had paused about us to 
listen, and knew that, if this officer could dt'fy me, they also would. So I 
turned on him sharp, and said: 'Captain, this question of your term of service has 
been submitted to the rightful authority, and the decision has been published in orders 
You are a soldier, and must submit to orders till )ou are properly discharged. If you 
attempt to leave without orders, it will be mutiny, and I will shoot you like a dog ! Go 
into the fort noii.\ instantly, and don't dare to lea\e' without my consent.' I had on an 
overcoat, and ma)' have had my hand about the breast, for he looked at me hard, paused a 
moment, and then turned back into the fort. The men scattered, and 1 returned to the 
house where I was quartered, close by. The same afternoon. President Lincoln went out 
to see the army, and the officer pushed through the throng of soldiers, and on reaching the 
President's carriage said: 'Mr. President I have a cause of grievance. This morning I 
went to speak to Colonel Sherman, and he threatened to shoot me.' Mr. Lincoln, who 
was still standing, said, 'Threatened to shoot you ?' 'Yes, sir, he threatened to shoot me.' 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



69 




Mr. Lincoln looked at 

him, then at me, and 

stooping his tall, spare 

form toward the officer, 

said to him in a loud 

stage-whisper, easily heard 

for some yards around : 

' Well, if I were you, and 

he threatened to shoot, I 

would not trust him, for I 

believe he would do it.' 

The officer turned about 

and disappeared, and the 

men laughed at him. 

Soon the carriage drove 

on, and, as we descended 

the hill, I explained the 

facts to the President, who 

answered : ' Of course I 

didn't know anything 

about it, but I thought 

you knew )'our own busi- 
ness best."' 

While McClellan was 

organizing his army, it 

was announced in October '""' "" ' "" '" " '" "" "" '""'°'""- ''''™''- 

that the Confederates were massing at Leesburg, Va., so a reconnaissance was ordered. 

Generals Stone and McCall proceeded, with about three thousand men, as far as Balls' Bluff, 

Loudon County, where Colonel Devins disembarked with four companies of his Fifteenth 

Massachusetts from their flat boats on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Devins found the 

enemy in strong force on October 21, and there was a sharp fight. The musketry 

hastened the movements of the First California 
Regiment, under Colonel Edward D. Baker, and 
the battle became a hot one. Baker, being the 
ranking officer, took command, and, supposing that 
McCall was coming up, he decided to make a 
stand. But McCall had been ordered back to 
camp, and the two Colonels had to fight it out 
against overwhelming odds. Baker fell dead, 
pierced by several bullets. A retreat followed 
and as the Federals had lost their best officers, 
they fell into disorder and were terribly cut up. 
To this day the exact number of their killed is 
not known, but official estimates place it at three 
hundred, with seven hundred wounded and miss- 
ing. Half of the command with Colonels Coggs- 
well and Lee, were made prisoners, Colonel Devins 
escaping by swimming his horse across the Poto- 
mac. Though a very small affair, compared to 
subsequent engagements, Ball's IMuff caused deep 




70 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



sorrow in tlie North, while the 
price of Gold rose ten points in 
unfeeling Wall Street. The gam- 
ble in Gold hail already be^^un, the 
balance of the scale rising- and 
falling as the Government forces 
won or lost battles. 

[ohn C. l'"remont, who had run 
for the Presidency in 1856 on the 
Republican I'arty nomination, had 
been commissioned a Major- 
General, and placeil in command 
of the Military Department of the 
West. His fame as a Rock\ 
Mountain explorergave the North- 
ern people great hopes of his 
capacity, but he assumed to have 
political as well as military power, 
and as oil and water cannot mingle, 
Fremont proved a failure in in 
dependent commaml. The tact 
was, that like; the citi,^en soldier)', 
even the high oHicers in tlu; I'ed- 
eral army had to learn their precise 
duty in the e.xalted positions to 
which the)' were assigned. Sher- 
man modestly thought a Colonelcy 
too much for him, but as he rose 
gradually in rank and studied the 
art of war in the held, he became 
only second in fame to Grant. The 
trouble with I'remont was, that being placed in 
he conceived the idea that he was reallv a Gov 





CAMf LILLEt. KKEMom's HEADQLAKTERS. 



military command of debatable territory, 
ernor. This, of course, caused a friction 
between him and the civil 
authorities, which could 
only be remo\ed b)' his 
transfer to another sphere 
of duty. Then this really 
distinguished citizen of 
the Republic fretted under 
his changed condition and 
his usefulness was impair- 
ed, greatly to the loss of 
the Government and the 
people. 

General Nathaniel 
l,\on, at that time, occu- 
pied ,1 position on the 
soullui'ii Ijorder of Mis- 
souri. He had less than 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



71 







six thousand men, while he was confronted by a Confederate force of nearly twice his 
strength. On August i, he had a skirmish at Dug Springs which resulted in his favor, but 

it did not prevent a concentration of 

■ , the Confederates. As retreat would 

be hazardous, Lyon decided to risk 
a battle at Wilson's Creek. 

Colonel Franz Sigel was sent to 
: make a wide detour with two regi- 
I ments and a field battery, and get 
into the Confederate rear. Sigel 
performed his task most admirabi)', 
and, on August 10, was in the de- 
sired position. Lyon then advanced, 
and with the aid of Totten's battery 
drove in the opposing lines, the 
Confederates taking refuge on an 
elevated position. Both Sigel and 
L)on followed, and for the first time 
in the war a hand-to-hand combat 
ensued. But the Federals were 
vastly outnumbered, and they were 
unmercifully handled. 

General Lyon was personally a 
very brave man, and in his ex- 

i tremity exposed himself more than 

a General should. Each charge 




72 



THE MF.^rORIAL WAR BOOK. 



saw him in the advance, and he was 
twice woundetl before the battle had 
been an hour old, and his horse was 
killed under him. Colonel Mitchell, 
of the Second Kansas, seeing that the 
General had fallen, led his regiment 
on another charge. Scarcely had the 
Kansas men begun moving when their 
Colonel fell, pierced by bullets. His 
men shouted, " Who will lead us 
no\v ?" "I will," exclaimed the wound- 
ed General, rising from the groum.!. 
"Come on boys." He had scarceh 
uttered the words when a bullet piercetl 
his heart. 

In the meantime Sigel and his brig- 
ade fell into difficulties owing to the 
superior force that faced him. At this 
juncture Dubois' battery sprang for- 
ward and opened a fierce discharge 
of grape and canister which shattered 
the Confederate line. Then their right 
wing fell into confusion and the} 
hastily retreated to the convenient 
woods behind them. To add to their 
discomfort and dismay they lost a train 
of wagons which caught fire. By that 
time Major Sturgis and Colonel Sigel 
had joined forces, and the latter de- 
cided to retreat. Seizing a railroad 
train he went to Rolla, one hundred 
and twenty-five miles away from the scene 








of conflict. The Federals lost twelve hundred 
and t]iirt\-six in killed, wounded 
and missing, while the Confedrates 
lost over one thousand. 

Franz Sigel subsequently rose to 
the rank of Major-General and the 
command of a corps, mainl}' com- 
posed of German regiments, whose 
proudest boast was that they all 
■ fought mit Sigel." When the will 
of General Lyon was read, it be- 
queathed $30,ocx) to the United 
States Government for the prosecu- 
tion of the war. But his bequest was 
a mere drop in the bucket. The 
average cost of the war, per da)-, was 
one million dollars, consequently the 
General's money did not cover more 
than thirty minutes. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



71 




^jsss^i^^^^^ 




Having- won the Battle of Wilson's Creek, General Sterling- Price continued recruiting 
so rapidly, that he decided to go on a short invasion. Advancing on Lexington, Ky., he 
found the city fortified by Colonel fames A. jNIulligan, of 
the Twenty-third Illinois, who had only three thousand 
Federals to garrison and man his line of entrenchments. 
Price's command was fully twenty-four thousand strong, 
as he had been joined by Generals Harris, Rains, Pearce, 
and Parsons. Despite the fearful odds against him. Mulli- 
gan decided to make a stand, and when Price made a 
demand for his unconditional surrender, replied, " If you 
want us, come and take us." The siege of Lexington began 
on September i 2, and continued for eight days. Mulligan's 
defence was a remarkable exhibition of bravery, for not 
only was he outnumbered, but his supply of ammunition 
was scanty, Price having captured the Federal supply 
steamer. He surrendered, with great honor, .September 
21, after a long parley, the principal otiicers on the 
Federal side being Colonels Mulligan, Marshall, Grover 
and Peabody. The Confederate losses were extraor- 
dinarily heavy, as over two thou.sand were either 
killed or wounded, for whenever they charged Mulligan's 
breastworks, he always exploded a mine, repeating the colonel james a, muluuan. 




74 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



operation no less than six times. The 
I'Y'deral loss was four lumdrecl and twenty 
killed and wounded. Colonel White was 
killed, while Colonels Marshall and Mul- 
ligan were woundetl, the latter in the leg- 
and arm. I'or his magnificent conduct, 
Colonel Mulligan received the thanks of 
Congress and the offer of a Brigadier- 
General's commission, which he modestly 
declined. His regiment was given the 
right to in.scrilje " Lexington " on its 
riag. 

General Fremont ordered Sterling 

Price to be pursued, and Major Charles 

Zagonyi started on a raid with one 

hundred and fifty horsemen. On October 

25, he struck the Confederates near 

Springfield, Missouri. Zagonyi was a 

man without fear, and though he was 

facing two thousand men, he did not 

hesitate for a moment. Quietly turning 

GENERAL sTKKLiNu iKicE c. s. A. ill Jiig sadcllc, Zagonxi said to his men : — 

" Follow me, and do like me ! Comrades, the hour of danger has come. Your first battle 

is before )'ou. The enemy is two thousand strong, and we are but one hundred and fifty. 





CEN. PARSONS, < 



CEN, l-BARCB, C. S. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



75 






^ 








*v, "' 



^^. '> J -^^JifT^t**- 






4 




It is possible no man will come back. If any of you would turn back, you can do so now ! " 
The only response made by his men was a hearty cheer, as they gathered in solid 

ranks. Delighted by the evident enthusiasm of his troopers, Zagonyi exclaimed : " I will 

lead you ! Let the watchword be, ' Tlie Union and Fremont ! ' Draw sabres ! B)' the 

right flank — quick trot — march ! " Spurring forward, the Major dashed down a lane. 

Then the command galloped into some open fields, across a brook and over a fence. They 

were met by an outburst of musketry which emptied many saddles. Lieutenant Majthenyi 

then took thirty men to engage the Confederate cavalr)-, full)' five times his own strength. 

The Major and Captain McNaughton continued with the 

remainder, and actually drove the Confederates through 

the streets of Springfield. This victory was a costly one, 

however, for out of Zagonyi's one hundred and fifty men, 

eighty-four were killed or wcnunU-d. It was a most brilliant 

affair, and caused unbountled enthusiasm in the North. 

General Henry W. Halleck now superseded Fremont 

in command of the Missouri Department, and entered on 

a more vigorous military campaign. He found the cit)' of 

St. Louis full of riotous soldiers who had strayed from 

their regiments, but with the aid of General fustus A. 

McKinstry, whom General Fremont had appointed as 

provost-martial, order was soon restored. General McKin- 
stry became known to the North by the fearlessness he 

displayed in arresting Southern disturbers of the peace, 

when such action was attended with no small degree of 

danger. 

Bishop Leonidas Polk, of the Episcopal Church, and 

Dr. P'rancis Vinton, then rector of Trinity Church, in New 




76 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




York city, were both graduates of West Point before 
iMitering the ministr\-. Polk dropped his Bishop's gown 
for a Confederate General's coat, an example Vinton 
was anxious to follow. He was, however, persuaded to 
remain with his church. These incidents show how strong 
were personal convictions on both sides of the great 
(juarrel. On September 4, Polk hatl in\aded Kentucky 
on the West, and Zollicoffer entered on the East. Colum- 
bus was fortified with one hundred and twenty heavy 
guns, supported by twent\-tive thousand men. 

Major Anderson, having been raised to the rank of 
Major-General, was in command of the Army of the 
Cumberland, his second in command being Brigadier- 
General Sherman. Then Anderson fell ill, and Sherman, 
on taking command, told Secretary of War Cameron that 
two hiuidred thousand men would be necessarj' to expel 
the Confederates from Kentucky. This utterance, being 
repeated, led to a serious inquiry regarding Sherman's 

sanity. Writing on the subject in his memoirs, the General says : " In the general 

conversation which followed, I remembered taking a large map of the United States, 

antl assuming the people of the whole South to be in rebellion, that our task was to subdue 

them, showed that McClellan was on the left, having a frontage of less than a hundred 

miles, and Fremont the right, about the same ; whereas I, the centre, had from the I5ig 

Sandy to Paducah, over three humlred miles of frontier ; that iMcClellan had a hundred 

thousand men, Fremont sixty thousand, whereas to me had only been allotted about 

eighteen thousand. I argued that, for the purpose of defense, we should have sixty 

thousand men at once, and for offense, we should need two hundred thousand, before 

we were done. Mr. Cameron threw up his hands and exclaimed, ' Great God ! where 

are they to come from ?' I asserted 

that there were plenty of men at '■^'"'■-' ^ T ^i fc^' W " I 

the North, ready and willing to 

come, if he would only accept 

their services ; for it was notorious 

that regiments had been formed in 

all the Northwestern States, w-hose 

services had been refused by the 

War Department, on the ground 

that they would not be needed. 

My attention was subsec|uentlv 

drawn to the publication in all the 

Kastern papers, which was of 

course copied at the West, of the 

report that I was crazy, insane, and 

mad, that I had demanded two 

hundred thousand men for the 

defense of Kentucky ; and the 

authority given for this report 

was stated to be the Secretary of 

War, hmiself, Mr. Cameron, who 

never, to my knowledge, took pains 




lELD TELEGRAPH STATIO.V. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



77 








Jj>^— - 


^ 








1 


T 


m 




^ 






, 









GENERAL I.EONIDAS POLK, C. S. A. 



Among' the Colonels was John A. Logan, 



to affirm or deny it. M\' position was, 

therefore, simph' unbearable, and it is 

probable I resented the cruel insult with 

language of intense feeling." 

Then the Northern people began 

hearing about a Federal Brigadier-General 

bearing the name of Ulysses S. Grant. 

He was in command at Cairo, 111., which 

occupies the tongue of land formed l^y 

the function of the Ohio and Mississippi 

Ri\ers. Grant seems always to have had 

a will of his own from the start, and like 

Sherman, he had trouble with his superiors 

in authority. He took possession of 

Paducah, Ky., at the mouth of the Ten- 
nessee River ; next he occupied .Smith 

Bend, finally deciding to threaten Columbus 

by attacking Belmont, which was directly 

opposite, on the Missouri side of the 

Mississippi. 

The battle of Belmont occurred on 

November 7. General Charles 1*'. .Smith 

moved from Paducah, while Generals 

Grant and McClernand started from Caii 

who subsequently rose to the rank of Major-General, and achie\ed a high reputation 

as a corps commander. The fight lasted six hours, but the result was so much in doubt 

that the battle was claimed as a victor)- b\- both Federals and Confederates. General 

Cheatham, who commanded the Confederates, lost over six hundretl men. Colonel John W 

Wright and Major Butler being among his killed. 
The Federal loss was six liundred and seven. 

General Grant was by nature a reticent, 
self-contained man. While preparing for a 
campaign, he seldom asked for advice from his 
corps of commanders, but pondered over his 
plans in solitude, until they shaped themselves 
into a feasible outline ; then, and then only, 
he unfolded to his Generals his objective point, 
and explained how he proposed to reach it. But 
there was always something held back, for it 
was impossible for Grant to reveal all that 
was in his mind. It was this habit of reticence 
that made Grant respected by his officers, even 
by the few who did not consider him their 
superior in strategic skill, or military genius. 
During the first two )ears of the war, it was 
liis fate to encount(.'r bitter opposition, fierce 
ilenunciation and shameful calumny, but 
neither one or the other had any apparent 
effect upon him, nor swerved him from the 
line of conduct he had laid out for himself. 




7» 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR ROOK. 



79 



As a soldier, he showed the possession of quahtics that ha\(: marked every great 
niihtary commander, but he never issued any glowing orders calculated to fire the blood of 
his troops, neither did he seek their applause. Unlike other Generals, he would ride past a 




GENERAL ULYSSES SIJIPSON GRANT. 



BORN APRIL 27, 1822, AT POINT PLEASANT, OHIO. 

SPUING OK 1846 TO AUTUMN OF 1847. COLON 

AUGUST 7, 1861. MAjOK-CiKNERAL, FE 

APPOMATTOX, APRIL 9, 1S65. GE> 

UNITEU STATES, 1869-1877. 



ST AT WEST POINT, 1839-1843. SERVED IN MEXICAN \ 
ST ILLINOIS INFANTRV, JUNK I7, 1861. BRIGADIER-GENI 
UV 25, 1S62. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL, MARCH T, 1864. 

OF THE ARMY, JULY 25, 1866. PRESIDENT OK TME 
U AT MT. MCGREGOR, N. Y., JULY 23, 1885. 



moving column, or gallop through a corps at rest, apparently unconscious of the cheers that 
.saluted him. When he reachc^d the Army of the Potomac, after being raised to the rank of 
Lieutenant-General, and tlie se\'eral corps began crossing the Rajjidan River, the men 



8o 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



cheered as he rode by the marchino; columns, but Grant paid no heed, and the troops soon 
learned that silence was the only oreeting he asked for. Grant seUlom passed over the roads 
occupied I)y his infantrw This was because he always wantcil to axoid the noisy cheers of 
the men, and because he wisheil to ride rapitlly. When he slarlctl from camp or bivouac, 
the General used to swing- himself into the sai-KlIc, and dash oft without a word, leaving his 
staff officers and the mounted escort to follow as best they could. 

When the preconcerted place of rendezvous was reached. Grant wouUl sit on a stump, 
or a fence, for hours, listening to the guns, and onl\' betra_\ing his suspense b)' slowly 
chewing the unlit cigar he habiiuallx' carried betwet'U his teeth while conducting a battle. 
Staff officer after staff officer would riiU; u]), tk-liver messages and receive answers, as if 
they knew their cues and e.\its before hand. " W e have a stronger force before us than I 
imagined," would write a corps commander. " Sta\' where you are, and I will reinforce 




'■&V<Sb.;v 



you," would go back, and before the aide was out of sight, the General's staff would be 
scattered, rapidly changing the positions of other bodies of troops to meet the emergency. 
To those who were near him. Grant was kind and considerate, and the fact that his staff 
officers clung to him through all the grades he attained, while they could have earned 
higher rank by more direct duty in the line, is a proof of his really lovable disposition, a 
trait that was clearly shown after he had laid down the duties and cares of rank and public 
office. Like most men who have made their mark in the history of the world. Grant did 
not fully appreciate the important part \\v. had taken during the war until he came to write 
his memoirs in the presence of death. 

He was from boyhood an ardent lover of good horses, and he always had a large 
number of exceedingly fine animals at his disposal. His utter indifference regarding the 
uniform of his rank somewhat detracted from his appearance as a horseman. He never 
wore a sword or a sash after the battle of Shiloh, even on parade days for review. In his 
memoirs. Grant mentions his sword and sash for the first and only time, saying: "Suddenly 
a battery with musketr)- opened upon us from the edge of the woods on the other side of 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



the clearing. The shells ami balls whistled about our ears very fast for aljout a minute. 
I do not think it took us longer than that to get out of range and out of sight. In the 
sudden start we made, Major Hawkins lost his hat. He did not stop to pick it up. When 
we arrived at a perfectly safe position, we halted to take an account of damages, 
IVIcPherson's horse was panting as if ready to drop. On examination, it was found that a 
ball had struck him forward of the flank, just back of the saddle, and had gone entirel)- 
through. In a few minutes the poor beast dropped dead; he had given no sign of injury 
until we came to a stop. A ball had struck the metal scabbard of my sword, just below 
the hilt, and broken it nearh' off; before the battle was over, it had broken off entire])-. 







Battle uf Belmont, Mo., No 



There were three of us: one had lost a horse killed ; one a hat, and one a swonl-scabbard. 
All were thankful that it was no worse." 

I once saw Grant ride along a line of battle, while the troops were actively engaged. 
Then his horse was walking, while the rider sat upright and seemed for the moment 
transfigured. His hat was pushed back from his brow, and his eye was bright and keen. 
Every movement going on before him was evidently noticed, and he avoided a wounded 
man by a touch of the bridle, yet the General's demeanor was as impassive as ever. Those 
who have had intimate relations with Grant in the field, remember that he always seemed 
to see everything, yet appeared not to be looking at anything. When the Army of the 
Potomac was pursuing Lee's forces, after the evacuation of Richmond and the Petersburg 
siege works. Grant wore out no less than six horses inside of three clays. So furiously 
did he ride from point to point, it frequently happened that all of his orderlies were left 



82 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




l)chiiul. Indeed, wxy few of 




the headquarter staff could keep up the pace, though the 
officers ahva\s tried to have good horses. Man)' 
a time I have met the General galloping to some 
point in a battle-field, and twenty minutes after 
encountered kis aides pumping along, with their 
orderlies steaming away behind them. 

Grant's operations were so well planned that 
they attracted attention at Washington and one 
da\' he was surprised by the appearance of six 
magnificent river steamboats, all lashed together, 
anil loaded to their guards with troops, cannon, 
horses and all the paraphernalia of war. It was 
the famous Pennsylvania Brigade, under Briga- 
ilier-Gent'ral lames .S. Xegley a veteran of the 
Me.xican War, where he served while yet in his 
teens. General Grant .said afterwards, that Gen- 
eral Negley's use of steamboats, for the trans- 
portation of his brigade from Pittsburg, had 
taught him a lesson that he never forgot. Gen- 
eral Xegley \X\A splendid ser\ice tluring the war, 
as will be seen hereafter. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



83 




CHAPTER VII. 

SEA-COAST OPKKATKIXS AND THE EEDEKAL BLOCKADE. 

Affairs were now assuming a more definite shape. McClellan was in supreme 
command in the East, with the nominal rank 
of General-in-Chief, while Halleck directed all 
operations in the Southwest. It was under- 
stood that a comprehensive and co-operative 
movement of the various Federal armies was 
contemplated, which would soon bring the war 
to a close. That was the one absorbing desire. 
While the land forces were thus being strength- 
ened and advantageously placed, the Govern- 
ment turned its attention to the naval arm of 
the service. River and ocean steamers, ferry 
boats and other crafts were transformed into 
war vessels, to act as a flotilla in blockading 
Confederate seaports, while on the Ohio and 
Upper Mississippi Rivers, some queer-looking 
gunboats were improvised out of the steamers 
plying in those waters. The sound of the 
workman's hammer was heard in all the navy 
yards and machine shops ; factories were estab- 
lished for the manufacture of all kinds of 
military equipment ; foundries turned out shot 
and shell, instead of cooking stoves and plow- 




84 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




shares ; thousands of young women dropped their needles to learn how to make musket 
cartridjj^e cases. Every armory was busy, niofht and da\' ; instead of peaceful machiner}", 
the lathes in all the largo iron works turnetl out cannon ; in fact the Government 

and the people strained every ner\e to meet 
the sudden emergency. 

The public censure that fell upon General 
Butler for the Big Bethel affair, resulted in 
his being relieved of his command by Major- 
General John E. Wool, of the Regular Army, 
and a distinguished veteran of the ^Mexican 
War. Poor Butler found himself idle and 
without orders. Appreciating his predecessor's 
feelings. Wool gave Butler command of all 
the troops outside of Fortress Monroe. Being 
a man of indomitable energy, Butler soon 
cut out some work for himself. It was 
this trait that gave the Massachusetts Militia 
General so much prominence during the entire 
war. Commodore Silas H. Stringham was, at 
that time, one of the oldest officers in the 
Xavy, being in his sixty-fifth year when the 
bombardment of Fort Sumter shook the 
Republic to its centre. Stringham had been 
fifty-two years in the service, entering as a 
midshipman, in 1809, at the age of thirteen, 
on board the frigate President. He was given 




rHE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



85 




command of the United States Heet, then Ijeing gathered in Hampton Roads, and soon 
ascertained that the Confederates were receiving English sujjphes of arms, ammunition 
and clothing, carried hy blockade-runners through Hatteras Inlet. The old sea clog told 
Butler, and the latter at once wrote to Pres- 



naval and land force be sent to capture 
the forts defending the inlet, and thus 
close the passage. " The Council of War," 
as it was sometimes styled by the soldiers 
at the front, approved of the suggestion. 
General Butler was to take nine hundred 
soldiers, and Commodore Stringham was 
to command the fighting squadron. The 
fleet consisted of the Cumberland, Minne- 
sota, Monticello, Pawnee, Wabash and 
Harriet Lane. Butler put his men on th(; 
transports Adelaide and George Peaboth', 
and the expedition sailed on August 27, 
1861. 

Arriving off Cape Hatteras on the 
afternoon of August 28, Strintrhamcame to 




86 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Commodore Stkingham's Fleet, The Cumbekuxnd, Minnesota, Monticello. Pawnee, 
Wabash and Harriet Lane» August ag, 1861. 

anchor, wIumi preparations to land the troops began. The Confederate Forts, Clark and 
Hatteras, stood on the west end of Hatteras Island, and commanded the Inlet. It was, 
therefore, arranged that Butler should land his men a short distance up the beach, and 
attack these forts in their rear, while the vessels assailed them in front. Great difficulty 
was experienced by the infantry in landing, the dreaded Hatteras surf dashing the heavily 
laden boats on the santl with terrific violence, but not a single man was lost. The attack 

began about ten o'clock, and was continued for four hours, 
when the flags on both forts were hauled down, the 
Federals supposing that the Confederates intended to 
surrender. The Monticello and the Harriet Lane then 
advanced up the Inlet, but met a vigorous fire from Fort 
^^— ^^ Hatteras, which was returned by the entire fleet until half-past 

^^^ "^ ^i>^. when the vessels drew out of range. The Monticello ran 

j^ iSS^-tB aground, but floated off again without the loss of a spar or a 

^ ^^ man. To show how mistakes are often made in hostile 

movements, it is only necessarj- to relate the following 
incident : — At the time the Confederate forts pulled down 
their flags and ceased firing, as a trap for the vessels, 
Butler's men advanced, and discovered that Fort Clark had 
been abandoned. Taking possession, the boys hoisted their 
own flag, when the vessels opened fire upon them, under the 
supposition that the ensign was a Confederate one, so the 
victorious troops were compelled to evacuate the fort before 
Federal shells. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



87 




The bombardment 
was resumed early 
the following morn- 
ino-, it being spirit- 
edly replied to by 
Fort Hatteras. The 
I'ederal fire, how- 
ever, became so hot 
that the garrison, 
unable to endure the 
tremendous punish- 
ment, ran to their 
bomb-proofs. They 
had scarcely done so, 
when an eleven-inch 
shell slipped in 
among them, and 
exploded with terri- 
ble result. Then the 
white flag was raised. 





/ •■ T 



and firing ceased. After some parleying, the Confederates surrendered, and the Inlet was 
won. Although the discharge of shot, shell and bullet had been severe during the two 
days, not a single Federal soldier or sailor was killed or wounded, while the Confed- 
erate loss was but slight. 
By this victory Butler 
regained the confidence 
of the North, and his 
reputation was establish- 
ed. S t r i n g h a m was 
made an Admiral, but his 
age prevented his doing 
much active service there- 
after. The Government 
unwisely neglected to 
reinforce the Federal 
troops, left by Butler at 
Hatteras Inlet, or send 
an experienced officer 
to take command. The 
consequence was that 
the Confederates con- 
trolled two other inlets, 
and the blockade re- 
mained unbroken. These 
seacoast operations were 
often marked by curious 
incidents. Fort Pickens, 
in Pensacola Bay, Fla., 
had been garrisoned by 
the Sixth New York, 



||||^^4tJijMi|^i II "III i_ ii>«i|S5f .',■ 








: BRITISH CHANNEL, BV THE 



88 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 





commanded In' 

Colonel -Billy" 

Wilson. This 

othcer was a 

curious charac- 
ter, and he usetl 

to boast that 

e\"er\- man i n 

his regiment 

ought to be in 

Sing Sing Pris- 
on. This was. 

of course, an 

exaggeration. 

but the men 

were a set of 

tiare-devils of 

no regular oc- 
cupation, a n d 

it was believed 
that some of them were thieves. When the regiment was mustered in, they marched into 
old Tammany Hall, (now the Sun office) and listened to speeches from their officers. 
Then the men rose to their feet, and with uplifted arms, collectively took an awful oath 
to kill every rebel they could la\- their hands on. So desperate was the character of the 
material in the Si.xth, it was considered safest to throw them into Fort Pickens, where they 
would be out of mischief. 

But Wilson's men were not to be balked, and they contrived to have lots of fun with 

the Confederates. 
On the night of Sep- 
tember 2, Lieutenant 
Shepley took a small 
number of the Zou- 
aves in a boat, and, 
crossing over to 
Warrenton, actually 
succeeded in burning 
the dry dock at the 
navy yard. A similar 
experiment was 
made ten days later, 
when a Confederate 
privateer was ca{>- 
tured, and burned to 
the water's edge. 
These daring acts 
infuriated the Con- 
federates, so fifteen 
hundred men, under 
Generals Anderson 
and RuiTirles, em- 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



89 



barked during the night of October 8, and landed at 
Deer Point, on Santa Rosa Islam!, four or five miles 
from Wilson's camp. The Zouaves were completely 
surprised, but as the Confederates shouted "Death 
to Wilson, — no quarter," these New York street boys 
saw it was to be a free fight, so they soon rallied, and 
stubbornly contested every inch of ground as they fell 
back to Fort Pickens. Here they were reinforced b\" 
Majors X'odges and Arnold, with four companies of 
infantry, when the combined force charged upon the 
enemy, who were enjoying themselves in rifling the 
Federal camp. , Taken by surprise in their turn, the 
Confederates took to their boats, and escaped with a 
loss of one hundred and fifty men, while the Federals 
lost sixty-four, Major V'odges being taken prisoner. 

In a letter to 
State Ouarter- 
master- Gen- 
eral Chester 
A . Arthur 





(who afterwards became President by the assass- 
ination of Garfield), Colonel Wilson wrote that 
he had heard the Confederates had intended to 
put him in a cage, and exhibit him as a wild 
specimen of the genus Yankee. In November 
tollowing, the Hatteras Inlet Blockading Squadron 
destroyed the village of Warrenton and silenced 
Fort McRae. 

The Government, having got a little stronger 
in improvised war vessels, it was next decided 
to enforce the Southern blockade more severely. 



ISAAC I. STEVE 



Accordingly, fifteen thousand men were 
assembled at Annapolis, Md., and placed 
under the command of Brigadier-General 
Thomas W. .Sherman (no relation to the 
hereof "The March to the Sea)." There 
were also provided fourteen gunboats, 
thirty-four steamers and twenty-six sailing 
vessels, under the command of Commo- 
dore Samuel P\ Dujjont, who had been in 
the service since 1815. The expedition 
was to descend on the coast of North 
Carolina, and do something, nobody 
seemed to know exactly what. In due 
time the fleet rendezvoused in Mampton 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




Roads, and proceeded to sea on October 29. General " Tom " Sherman's troops were in 
three brigades, under Brioadier-Generals Egbert L. \'iele, Isaac I. Stevens and Horatio G. 

Wright. During the first and second day after 
the starting- of the fleet, the weather continued 
favorable, and there was a tolerably calm sea 
until after all of the vessels had passed the 
much-dreaded Cape Hatteras,when an unusually 
severe storm set in, and so completely scattered 
the vessels, that, on the morning of Saturday, 
the 2d of November, but one of them could be 
seen from the flagship. Four of the transports 
were lost; the Peerless, which sank after 
colliding with the Star of the South, sent to 
her assistance, and whose crew was saved b)- 
the gunboat Mohican ; the Osceola and the 
Inion, l)()th ot which went ashore, and had 
all on bo.u'il made [irisoners ; and the Go\'ernor, 
whose three humlred and fifty marines, under 
Major John Reynolds, with the exception of 
a corporal and six men, were saved by the 
frigate Sabine. 




!»K^<Jii 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



91 




Fort Lincoln, Wa<;hington. D. C. 



One 
cola Bay 



CHAPTER MIL 

THE PORT ROYAL AXD HILTON HEAD EXPEDITION. 

of the finest harbors on the South Atlantic coast, from Cape Hatteras to Pensa- 
is the one formed by a network of islands lying- at the mouth of the Broad 

River, South Carolina. The largest island 
in the group is Hilton Head, and being of 
great strategic importance, the Confeder- 
ates lost no time in fortifying the various 
inlets. It was a desire to possess this part 
of the coast as a basis for future offensive 
operations, that led to the formation of what 
is usually known as the Port Royal Expe- 
dition. The sealed orders that had been 
given to the commander of each vessel, 
directed him to rendezvous off Port Royal 
Bar, and the fleet made its final start from 
Hampton Roads on October 29. At this 
period of the war, the Eederal arm)' and 
naval commanders laid great stress on the 
necessity for surprising the enemy when- 
ever any important movement was under- 
taken. That these labored efi'orts at 




92 



/■///:" Ml-MOK/AI. WAR BOOK. 




F..KT WAi.KtK, Hilton Head. November 7. iSf.i. 



concealment invariably failed, is not surprising, in view of the fact that the Southern 
States had many sympathizers in Northern cities, especially Washington, Baltimore, and 
New York. It was even said that spies lived in the White House. Under these circum- 
stances, it naturally followed, therefore, that when an\- secrecy was obsened, the fact onh" 
whetted the curiosity of these voluntar)- and paid agents, who never rested until they 
ascertained the positive or probable objective point of the contemplated movement. Had 
the weather continued favorable, the Sherman-Dupont flotilla might have reached its 
destination before the Confederate forces at Hilton Head could discover the fact, hut the 
storm that delayed the expedition, gave them ample 
opportunity for defensive preparation. 

Still, while Dupont's ships had been dispersed like 
a tlock of frightened birds, the expedition was by no 
means ruined, for on Sunday, November 4, those 
vessels that had escaped the ravages of the stonn, 
began arriving, one by one, off Port Royal, until twenty- 
five assembled. The rendezvous had been made with 
much difficulty, because the Confederates had long 
before extinguished every lighthouse, and removed 
every beacon and buoy on the Secession coast, for 
it must be confessed, by impartial writers, that the 
South began her warlike preparations in the most 
thorough manner. As more vessels hove in sight off 
the bar, careful soundings were made under the united 
direction of Mr. Boutelle, of the Coast Survey, and 
of Commander Charles H. Davis, fleet captain and 
and chief of the commodore's staff, and on 
November 5. a reconnaissance of the Confederate 




F DfPONT, 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



93 



works was made in force by Commander 
John Rogers and General Wright, with the 
gunboats Curlew, I. P. Smith, Ottawa and 
Seneca. These vessels had not proceeded 
far up the channel when they were met by 
four Confederate steamers, and a lively 
exchange of fire took place, the Confederates 
retreating as the Federal gunboats advanced 
toward the batteries on Hilton Head and 
at Bay Point opposite. When within range, 
the batteries opened on the Federals, as 
was naturally expected, and another engage- 
ment of nearly an hour ensued. The 
object of the reconnaisance having been 
accomplished, the gun- 
boats hauled off and 
rejoined the fleet. 

It was then decided 
that the forts should 
be attacked early on 
the following day, but 
a high wind having 
come up, this was 
found impossible, and 
it was not until the 7th 
that it could be proper- 
ly made. The forced 
delay in beginning op- 
erations had enabled 









the Confederates 
to strengthen 
their defenses, 
liarthworks had 
been erected wher- 
ever practicable, 
the largest of those 
being FortWalker, 
which stood on 
I lilton Head, and 
had twent)--four 
cannon, of good 
calibre.The second 
largest earthwork 
was at Bay Point, 
( Ml .St. Phillip's Island, and had been named 
'~ort Beauregard. It had twenty guns, 
while there were six or eight more guns in 
smaller sand batteries. These fortifications 
were manned by South Carolina troops 
and a company of Georgia Volunteers, 
there being also a small squadron of eight 
steamers made, under the command of 
Commodore Josiah Tatnall, a veteran of 
the war of 181 2. 

Agreeably to the formulated plan of 
operations the Federal fleet advanced in 
battle order soon after sunrise on Novem- 



94 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



hi'i- 7, iIk- llas^ship Wabash at the lu-;ul. Cdinmodore Diipoiit's plan of attack was to pass 
up l)ft\vcfn I'orts Ik-aurcyanl. ami Walker, rcLHMviiiij^ and rctiirniiio- the fire of both ; then 
to turn around, and, with a llankin^- s(|uadr(>n i)rovided against an attack in the rear from 
Tatnall's steamers, to onoaj^t- h'ort Walker in front, after ha\ ini^- enfiladed its waterfaces. 
This imposing,'- programme w.is earriid out to the letlei", the firing' beginning- a little before 
ten o'clock, and continuing incessantly for three hours and a half, when it was discovered 
that both of the forts had been abandom'tl. Conflicts between shore and naval forces 
are al\va\s mon> picturescjue th.m l.uul battles, for the\- lu^gin with a bombardment of the 
fortificatit)ns and the rapid mo\ einent of war vessels, each delivering its fire as the ship 
])asses the object (^\ attack. An engagement between two armies is usuall\- fought out in 
a circumscribt'd space, amid wtuuls, hills, creeks and farms. The smoke from cannon and 




Scenes ix BtAiTOKT. S. C, ano Hihon- Heaii, 

musket covers the earth like a hot mist, and the combatants are often hidden for hours 
from each other. It was not so at Hilton Head. As Dupont's ships performed their minuet 
between the two points of land, each checked her speed rather gracefulK-. and delivered 
a broadside, then passed on to repeat the dose on the opposite tack. 

1 he bombardment during- the last hour of its continuance had been at tolerably close 
quarters and evidences of its terrible effect were manifest when the forts were afterward 
taken possession of. Numbers of dead and dying lay in all directions, amidst dismounted 
and shattered guns, the hospital building at Fort Walker being shot through and through 
in many places. The Confederate forces, under General Drayton, had been obliged to 
abamlon everything, and retreat hastily across an open space that lay iox a distance of nearly 
a mile between the fort and some woods in the direction of Bluffton, whilst the men at 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



95 




96 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Fort Beauregard had retreated to St. Helena, Cat and Port Royal Islands. The Federal 
loss was remarkably small, for so important an affair, there being only eight men killed 
and twenty-three wounded. The flagship was struck by thirty-four shells and solid shot, and 
she leaked very badly, but the remainder of the fleet escaped with little damages. As 

soon as practicable. General" Tom" Sher- 
man's troops were landed, every officer and 
man fit for duty being on terra firma that same 
evening. The Federal soldiers at once began 
repairing and strengthening the captured for- 
tifications at both Hilton Head and Bay Point, 
the former being named F^ort Welles, in honor 
of the Secretary of the Xavy and the latter 
received the name of Fort Seward, after the 
Secretary of State. While the land force was 
thus busilv emj)lo\ed, Commodore Dupont 
organized several naval expeditions with the 
smallest of his vessels and ship launches. 
These cruised through all the inlets and 
among the islands, and made important cap- 
tures. On November 9, two days after the 
fall of the Hilton Head and Bay Point Bat- 
teries, the; City of Beaufort was seized and its 
arsenal subsequently destroyed by the crew of 
the Seneca. All of this work was done with- 




L. 



1 1* irlHIMZ^^BB^^^S^^ 



HEAD BUILT BY SOLDIERS. 



\ 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



97 



out meeting any resistance whatever, the only stand made, in fact, b)- the Confederates, 
being at Port Royal Ferry, when, as late as December 31, an expedition was organized to 

destroy their 
earth works at 
that place. 

Commander 
Rodgers was se- 
lected to con- 
duct the affair, 
and right bril- 
liantly did he 
acquit himself. 
He took with 
him the Ellen, 
( )ttawa, Pembi- 
na, .Seneca, one 
ferr)-boat, and 
four of the large 
boats belonging 
to the Wabash, 
each carrying a 
twelve -pounder, 
and he was join- 
ed by General .Stevens, with the Forty-seventh, Forty-eighth and Seventy-ninth New 
York, the Eighth Michigan, and the Fifteenth and One Hundredth Pennsylvania 






Sunken Hulks to Pr 



EBN HaI!BORS. 



98 



Tlir. MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Rei,nmc;ius. As the leading vessels ascendeil Broad River and entered Whale Creek, the 
land force was carried on the other side throiis,di the Coosaw River, meeting near the ferry, 
where, early the next morning, they attacked the enemy. The Eighth Michigan being- 
deployed as skirmishers, soon drew the fire of a masked battery, which was finally silenced 
by the shells from the gunboats. The steaily cannonading b\- the latter soon made the 
Confederate position untenable, so they were compelled to retire, being hastened in their 
movement by the howitzer practice of the \\ 'al)as]i's rowboats. Without attempting any 
pursuit of the enemy, the abandoned works were at once taken possession of by the 
Federals, who returned to Beaufort, after having burned and demolished everything of any 
imporlanct' in the vicinit\-. Such is the cruel necessity of war. Destruction anil sudden 




ScENHs AT Hilton Hf 



N-u PoKT Royal, S. C. 



death, desolation and despair, mark its awful path. The torch finishes what shot and 
shell have shattered, and only those who have witnessed them can appreciate the savage 
and relentless character of battle, siege and skirmish. Even the march of an arm>- 
through friendly territory, leaves a seared footmark at almost every step it takes. The 
re-occupation of South Carolina soil was cause for great rejoicing throughout the North, 
and celebrations were rendered the more extensive when, h\ a general order, thanking the 
commanders of the expedition, the Secretaries of the Army and the Navy directed that 
a salute be fired from each navy yard and Federal fort in honor of the event. But the 
time was soon coming when the Government had something more important than salutes 
to think of, while the people began to exercise more patience regarding the progress of 
events on sea and land. 

But Dupont had not yet finished his task, for it should be said that, though he did 
not entirely originate the Hilton Head Expedition, he so elaborated and embroidered it, 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



99 




klENT OF FOKT WaLKE 



that it really became his own. Leaving the pretty little town of Beaufort, with its 
luxurious Summer houses, hidden by vine-covered verandahs and embosomed in orange and 
lemon groves, Dupont entered the Bay of St. Helena and Warsaw Sound, thus threatening 
command of the Savannah River and the Tybee. St. Helena Harbor is almost equal in 
size and security to that of Charleston. On November 25, Big Tybee Island also 

fell into the hands of the 

Federals, and the gallant 

Dupont was able to say 

in his despatches that the 

flag of the United States 

was again flying over the 

soil of Georgia. The final 

result of these operations 

was that all the coast, from 

Warsaw Sound, below the 

mouth of the Savannah Riv- 
er, northward as far as the 

entrance to the North Edisto 

River, was under control of 

the National Government. 

Forts Jackson and Pulaski 

alone remained in Confed- 
erate hands, and they effect- 
ually guarded the entrance of the Savannah River and protected the city bearing that name. 
Active and zealous as Dupont proved himself, he was well mated in General "Tom" 





THE .U F.MORI A L WAR BOOK. 








Fort Pvlaski. 



Sherman, who not only strengthened all the captured positions, but constructed an immense 
wharf at Hilton Head, erected large storehouses, and made it a depot for naval and army 
supplies. During all subsequent seacoast movements, such as the siege of Charleston, 
the attack in Mobile Bay, and the capture of New Orleans, the depots at Hilton Head and 
Port Royal Island performed an important part in receiving and forwarding food, rations, 
clothing, arms ami ammunition. Thus ended the operations during the year 1861. The 
sword had been drawn for nearly eight months, yet the people of the North and the South 

had but barely crossed the threshold of their 
internecine and fratricidal struggle. The pause 
that ensued was an ominous one, for when 
hostilities were renewed in the Spring of 1862, 
they wrapped the entire Union in a cloud of 
tlamc from the banks of the Potomac to those 
ot the Mississippi. 

Among the Confederate offensive operations 
at this period of the war was the fitting out 
of armed privateers, which were to cruise over 
the Atlantic ocean and destroy Federal mer- 
chant shipping. The first of these privateers 
to attract notice was the Nashville, a side- 
wheeler ot eleven hundred tons burden. She 
carried two ritled twelve-pounders, and was 
commanded by Captain Pegrim, who had as 
Lieutenants, Bennett and Fauntleroy. On 
November 17, 1S61, the Nashville captured 
the merchantman Harvey Birch, in latitude 49 




BUILDING PONTOON 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



degrees, 6 minutes north, anJ lonyitude 9 
degrees, 52 minutes, west (a part ol the 
British Channel). Captain Nelson and his 
crew of twenty-nine men were made pris- 
oners, and transferred to the Nashville. 
Captain Pegrim then removed all that was 
valuable in the merchantman's cargo, and 
setting fire to the ship, sailed for Southamp- 
ton where the prisoners were released on 
British soil. This act caused intense excite- 
ment in the North. 

Although General "Tom" Sherman and 
Commodore Dupont had achieved a great 
deal, they failed to secure control of the 
mouth of the Savannah River, consequenth' 
the blockade remained open at that point. 
The approaches to the Savannah were cov- 
ered by Fort Pulaski and Fort Jackson, both 
formidable in structure and armament. Du- 
pont had attempted several times to reach 
the city of Savannah by wa}' of Warsaw 
Sound, but only succeeded in getting pos- 
session of Dawfuskie Island, where he 

stationed a few gunboats. It remained for General Ouincy A. (^"dllmore. General Sher- 
man's chief of staff and an eminent military engineer, to devise the proper method of 




./ 




Fort Pllaski, 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



reducing- Fort PiHaski. Gillmore placed batteries on Big Tybee Island, to the southeast 
of Cockspur, and at \'enus Point, on Jones' Island, almost directly opposite. It was 




l^oNiooN Boat Ready for ths M^k^. 



arduous work, but a secret artificial channel connecting the Savannah River with Calibogue 
Sound was disco\ered. it having been obstructed bv the Confederates. Through this 





a 




1 

! 




JmS^i' ^ ti n & s> c^v ij • B 


1 . . ."". :. . 


""^T^^^il 


■'•teS»' jf^^^^^Bm^K^ 






iL 


*• ^a.1 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



103 



channel, and by way of Wilmington Narrows, St. Aug- 
ustine's Creek and Warsaw Sound, a body of troops, 
under General Viele, built a small fort on \'enus Point, 
and mounted several heavy guns. Other batteries were 
erected on Long Island and at the mouth of Mud 
River, which not only commanded the river entrance, 
i/ut cut oH all communication between Fort Pulaski and 
the City of Savannah. 

By April 9, 1S62, there were eleven batteries, 
mounting thirty-six guns, and on the following clay a 
message was sent by General David Hunter, who had 
three days before relieved Sherman of the chief com- 
mand, to Colonel Charles H. Olmstead, calling on him 
to surrender. The Confederate Colonel's reply was 
characteristic and might have been expected. " I was 
placed here to defend this fort," said he, "not to surren- 
der before a shot has been fired." 

There was therefore nothing for the Federals to do 
but to open fire, and the)' proceeded to do so about eight 
o'clock on April 10. Scarcely had the first shot gone 

shrieking through the sunshine, when Olmstead, made a vigorous response. The exchange 
of heavy metal was kept up all day, and at sunset the solid masonry of the fort showed the 
effects of the terribly large rifle shells and solid bolts that had been hurled against it. 
Finally the stone walls crumbled, as the missiles honeycombed it, each ten-inch shot 
adding to the battering process. P'ive of Colonel Olmstead's guns were dismantled, and 





I04 



THE MFMORIM. WAR BOOK. 



his remaininor pieces delivered a very feelile fire. On lln' morning of April i i, the Federal 
batteries resumed their terrific bombardment, ami as the sun gilded the awful scene, wide 





SIGNAL TOWER. 



MAJUK-GENEKAL D. HUNTER. 



gaps appeareil in the .Southern angle of I'ort Pulaski. b'intling that the shots were 
penetrating to his magazine, the bra\e Colont-1 hoisted his token of surrender. General 
Hunter thus came into possession of the fort, with its garrison (if lour hundred officers antl 




I.STtkloK OK MoRTAK BaTTERV "StaNTON," TvBEE Isi.ANU, S. C, DfKl.NG 13u.MUAKU.ME.\ r Ol- FoKT PuLASKl, ApRlL lo, 1002. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



los 



men, forty-seven pieces of cannon, an immense quantity of commissary supplies, and nearly 
fifty thousand pounds of powder. Despite the severity of this heavy artillery duel, only one 




Fort PuLAbKi. 



Federal was killed, and three Confederates were wounded. As Fort Pulaski gave the 
Federals control of the Savannah River, no effort was made to capture Fort Jackson, and 
it was subsequentl}' voluntarily evacuated by the Confederate forces. 




io6 



Till-: MEMORIAL WAR PihiK. 




,JV 



CoMMODOKIi F."i;i.' I"i.'jTILLA on the MiSSISblPPI. 



CHAPTER IX. 



CAPTURE OF FORT HENRY J!V GENERAL GRANT AND COMMODORE FOOTE. 



Great activity in the Southwest marked the beginning of the year 1S62. At that time 
General Henry W. Halleck commanded the Federal Department of the Mississippi, and 

General Don Carlos Buell controlled the Depart- 
ment of the Ohio. Confronting these leaders 
stood General Albert Sidney Johnston, who had a 
strong established defensive line. The Confederate 
left rested at Columbus, on the Mississippi River; 
Forts Henry and Donelson guarded the Tennessee 
and Cumberland Rivers, and an entrenched camp at 
Bowling Green protected the important network 
of railroads running Southward to Nashville. John- 
ston's right flank lay at Mill Sj^ring, Kentucky. 
Stratgetically considered, this line was apparently 
perfect for defensi\e purposes, though it was not of 
much use in offensive operations. About January 
10, a forward movement of the Federal forces began. 
General Grant was at Cairo, Illinois, his forces also 
occupying Paducah, Kentucky, while General 
George H. Thomas was threatening Mill Spring. 

The Confederate force, under General Felix 
K. Zollicoffer, numbered about five thousand men, 
all Tennesseeans, except one Mississippi and one 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



107 



Alabama reg-iment. General Thomas had three thousand men from Ohio, Minnesota, 
Indiana, and Kentucky, having sent General Schoepf to Somerset, from which he was 
advanced. Zollicoffer decided to take the initiative and started to meet Thomas' column. 
The Confederates plodded through mud and mire, in a cold, drenching rain, during 
Saturday, January 18, finding the Fourth Kentucky and Tenth Indiana where the 
Somerset and Mill Spring Roads meet. The following morning, Zollicoffer advanced in 




*L Henrv Wager Halleck. 



strong force, and drove the Federals from one position to another, until they had exhausted 
their ammunition and retired to the woods. Thomas then re-formed, and received another 
charge. So impetuous were the movements of the Confederates that they seemed to be 
carrying everything before them, but Colonel S. S. Fry, of the Fourth Kentucky, noticed 
Zollicoffer riding in advance of his line, and fired. The pistol shot was returned by one 
of ZoUicoffer's aides, the bullet killing Fry's horse. The Federal Colonel disentangled 
himself, and again fired, the bullet entering ZoUicoffer's heart, and killing him instantly. 



io8 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



General George B. 
Crittenden assum- 
ed commantl, but 
the C(Mifederates 
were disheartencil 
by Zoll i coffer's 
death, and rtnall)- 
gave way before a 
inaenificent Fede 



Kentucky, and opent 
Johnston's positions 



ml charge led by the Ninth Ohio, 
under Colonel R. L. McCook. 

General Sterling Price suc- 
ceeded Zollicoffer in command of 
the Confederate forces in Mis- 
souri, and as he was being rapid- 
ly reinforced, Halleck sent Gene- 
ral S. R. Curtis to Lebanon, with 
brigades under Sigel, Asboth, 
Carr, Davis and Prentiss. 

Zollicoffer's death was disas- 
trous to the Southern side, for 
his army was dri\en from its cho- 
sen position and compelled to 
retreat in wild confusion to its 
Winter camp. As the fruits of 
his victory, Thomas reported 
the capture of twelve pieces of 
field artillery, with their caissons 
and army forges, besides a large quantity of small 
arms and ammunition. In addition to these, there 
were twelve hundred horses and mules, nearly three 
hundred wagons, a vast quantity of commissary stores, 
tools and camp equipage. 

General Thomas' success had an important influ- 
ence on the subsequent operations in that part of the 
^^. p^.^,,.,, theatre of war. It elated the North, and depressed 

the South, for it shattered the Confederate line in 
d the door for the Federals to enter and redeem Tennessee. But 
at Bowlintr Green and Columbus were still intact, so both armies 





THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



109 



prepared for serious work. Halleck was fortunate in having under him several regular 
army officers who subsequently rose to high distinction. Besides Grant (who was 
ultimately to extinguish Halleck), and William T. Sherman, there were Buell and 
McCook, who had served in Mexico, and Mitchell, who graduated from West Point 
in the same class with Robert E. Lee and Joe Johnston. In Buell's army were T. 
L. Crittenden and William Nelson, both well experienced in the art of war. Among 
Buell's Colonels was James A. Garfield, who rode at the head of an Ohio regiment, and 
had shown remarkable capacity and courage. Garfield was made a Brigadier for gallantry 
at the Battle of Prestonburg, where, with fifteen hundred men, he defeated twenty-five 
hundred Confederates under Humphrey Marshall, on January 7, 1862. The Confederate 
General was never heard of afterwards. The page of history that was to speak of Garfield 




as sharing- the martvred fate of Lincoln was then unwritten, but his remarkable career had 



General Halleck graduated from West Point in 1839, at the age of 24 years. He 
was assigned to the Engineer Corps, and became assistant professor of engineering at the 
Academy. Subsequently he served on the fortification board in New York harbor, when 
he was sent on a tour of examination of the public works in Europe. At the time of the 
Mexican War, he took an active part in the military and civil operations of the Government 
on the Pacific Coast, remaining there until the close of the year 1850. He was then made 
director-general of the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, and, in 1854, resigned from the 
army, devoting himself mainly to the practice of law in San I'Vancisco. In making up his 
staff, on being called into the service and given charge of a military department, Halleck 
selected Brigadier-General George W. Cullum as his chief of staff, and Schuyler Hamilton 



rilE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




KT SinNRV JOHNSTON, ( 



as assistant chief. Cullum, like Hallcck, had 
had no experience in active operations. They 
were niihtary students and professors. This 
fact explains \vh\ drant fouinl his practical 
ideas distasteful to headquarters. 

To comprehend the importance of the 
nuuH'ments about to be described, the reader 
should remember that Fort Henry stood on 
ihe east bank of the Tennessc^e River, while 
I'tM't I )onels()n occu[)ied the west bank of 
the Cuini)erland. These two bastioned earth- 
works were about lwel\ t; miles apart, connect- 
ed b)- an e.xceedingly well-constructed military 
road. There were also some Confederate 
redoubts on Islanel Number Ten. .So elab- 
orati' was tlu' network of forts and entrench- 
ments, that the Confederates believed the 
City of Columbus to be impregnable, and 
they st\'Ual it " The Gibraltar of America." 
The garrisons in Forts Henry and Donelson 
consisted of twenty-four thousand men, who 
had some one hundred and twent)- siege guns 
and field pieces. So evident was it that the 

two forts found the key to the Confederate line that they began independently to move 

upon it. General Buell suggested such a course to Halleck, while Grant, not knowing that 

his superior in rank had done so, also wrote to Halleck urging the same thing. These 

letters only confirmed the views of .Slu'rman and Cullum who were with 1 lalleck, and Grant 

at once received orders to go aheail. 

Geneivl Grant had then at his disposal about seventeen thousantl men, and it was 

decided to give nifli the assistance of the river gunboats under Commander Andrew H. 

P'oote. While making his preparations for the movement, Grant ordered a reconnaisance 

which .satisfied him that Fort Henry could easily be taken, if attacked promptly from the 

Tennessee River. On Monday, February 2, the comluned Federal army and naval fc^rces 

left Cairo for Paducah, where the\- arrivetl the same e\en- 

ing. The appearance of this formitlable tlotilla, as it moved 

up the Ohio River and through the Grand Chain, was a 

novel and picturesque one. The gunboats were ilat-bot- 

tomed hulls on which mansard-shaped structures hatl been 

built of hea\y jilanks, covered with two or three la)ers 

ol railroad iron. The angles were .so sharply deflected 

that a shot or shell would u.sually fly off at a tangent, instead 

of piercing the improvised armor. Foote had seven of 

these nondescript craft under his command, and he led the 

advance of the tlotilla. Every sort of steam river craft had 

been pressed into the .service as transports, so their number 

quite imposing. Grant's nuMi were in high fettle, for 

nothing better pleases a foot soldier than to be carried to 

his fighting ground on a steamer, because he can loll at 

his ease and enjoy the scenery along the route, being quite 

indifferent to the fact that he may never see it again. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




General Grant's attacking- land force had been 
divided into two divisions, under command of Brig- 
adiers John A. McClernand and Charles F. Smith, 
the entire command consisting of twenty Illinois 
regiments, two Iowa, two Missouri and one Indi- 
ana, besides a tolerably effective force of artillery 
and cavalry. The garrison in Fort Henry consisted 
of three thousand men, under Brigadier-General 
Lloyd Tilghman, and the batteries were armed with 
seventeen heavy guns. During the forenoon of 
Tuesday, February 3, Foote's gunboats advanced 
up the river to a point nine miles below Fort Henry, 
the troops having landed the previous da\' at 
Bailey's Ferry, going into camp on a high ridge 
near the river bank. Reconnaisances were made 
the next day, on both water and land, and every- 
thing was ready on Thursday, February 5, for 
the final attack. Grant and Foote had agreed 
that their advance should be made simultane- 
ously on the 6th, in time for the engagement bkigadier-ceneraljamesa. garfield. 
to begin about eleven o'clock. But during the night of the 5th, an unusually heavy 
rainstorm came up, so that while the rising river benefited the flotilla, the muddy roads and 
swollen streams they had to cross, proved a serious obstacle to the march of the troops, 
their artillery finding its progress to be both difficult and dangerous. 

The armored gunboats found no difficulty in passing the fire of the heavy gnns in the 
fort, Foote taking advantage of the protection afforded by Panther Island, which stands 
in the Western channel of the Tennessee River. So well did the naval commander perform 
his part of the work, that he was able to open fire at a range of about six hundred yards, 
while Grant's force was laboriously advancing through the mud. General Smith's column 
was proceeding on the opposite bank of the river in the direction of Fort Hieman, while 
that of General McClernand staggered along through swamp and mire towards the Dover 
Road, between Forts Henry and Donelson. The Federal bombardment opened on time, 
and lasted for over three hours, the Confederates making a warm and vigorous response. 

Long before the roar of cannon had died away. General 
Tilghman learned from his scouts of the advance of Grant's 
land forces, and as his position had already become unten- 
able, he determined to save his command from capture by 
retreatino- to Fort Donelson. Acting on this determination, 
the unfortunate Confederate General saw his trodps march 
away rather disorderly, leaving him with less than one hun- 
tlred officers and men. By that time all but seven of the 
siege guns in the fort had been dismantled by the incessant 
and terrific shelling of the Federal fleet. One of these 
guns had burst during the engagement, killing several men, 
the entire Confederate loss being ten men killed and some 
thirty wounded. As soon as Tilghman made his signal of 
surrender. Commodore Foote sent Commander Stembel, of 
his flagship, with Lieutenant Phelps, to hoist the Federal flag 
over the capturtd fort, and it was soon flying there. When 
General Tilghman surrendered his position, the fort had 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



been almost battered out of shape. The ramparts were ragged, the embrasures destroyed, 
and dismanlltHl cannons added to the awful wreck. Grant's troops did not come up in 
time to join in the glory of tin; victory, though they frit consoled by the fact that while 
I'"oote's guns were smashing b'ort Henr)-, it was their advance that tinalK' leil to its surren- 
der. General Smith's force had meanwhile ca[)tured lM)rt Hieman, on the opposite bank 
of the Tennessee, which was not defended at all, though, by its more elevated position, it 
completely commanded Fort Henry. The strategy displayed by Grant on the Tennessee 
River was merely an example of what he was to do on more important campaigns. The 
Federal loss was only two killed ami thirty-eight wounded, among the former being 
Lieutenant Hrittan, who was struck on the head by a forl\-two pound shot. The captured 



MAJOR-GENERAL 




. T. L. CRITTENDON. 



AJOK-GENERAL < 



fort contained tents for eight thousand men, some fifteen serviceable cannon, a large 
quantity of small arms, ammunition, commissary stores and general equipments. Though 
General Grant had not been personally engaged in the affair, he received his full share of 
praise, while Footewas formally thanked in general naval orders for his gallantry. 

This being General Grant's first independent movement, and the first great success in 
his wonderful career as a commander of large bodies of troops, he naturally writes at 
length concerning the capture of Fort Henr)- while dictating his memoirs. After telling 
how cavalierly Halleck treated him in St. Louis, and the ungracious consent given for the 
movement, Grant goes on to say : " The enemy at this time occupied a line running from 
the Mississippi River at Columbus, to Bowling Green and Mill Springs, Kentucky. " Each 
of these positions was strongly fortified, as were also points on the Tennessee and 
Cumberland Rivers near the Tennessee state line. The works on the Tennessee were 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



113 





mi^ 



'-ni 



c*^ k\ 







^•'^■^' 



.1,^' 




-'.;^?!f^'" 



% 



i; 



V'^ 



>^^. 









'^-''^ '■'~'^;*»»^ 






^ 



114 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 







Henry iH-canu' ours, b'ort I)t)iU'lson was tlie oatc 
inilitar)- and political importance — and to a rich cou 
tucky. These two points in our possession, 
the enemy would necessarily be thrown back 
to the Memphis and Charleston road, or to 
the boundary of the cotton states, and, as 
before stated, that road would be lost to 
them for through communication. In Feb- 
ruary, 1862, there were quite a good many 
steamers laid up at Cairo for want of employ- 
ment, the Mississippi River being closed 
against navigation below that point. There 
were also many men in the town whose occu- 
pation had been following the river in vari- 
ous capacities, from ca[)tain down lo deck 
hand. But there were not enough of either 
boats or men to move at one time the seven- 
teen thousand men I proposed to take with 
me up the Tennessee. I loaded the boats 
with more than half the force, however, antt 
sent General McClernand in command. I 
followed with one of the later boats and 
found McClernand had stopped, very prop- 
erly, nine miles below Fort Henr)-. Seven 



called Fort Heiman and Fort 
Henry, and that on the Cumber- 
land was Fort Uonelson, At 
these points the two rivers ap- 
proached \\ilhin ele\en miles of 
each other. The lines of ritle- 
l)its at each place extended back 
from the water at least two miles, 
so that the garrisons were in 
reality only seven miles apart. 
These positions were of immense 
importance to the enem\' ; and, 
of course, correspondingly im- 
portant for us to possess our- 
selves of. With Fort Henry in 
our hands we had a navigable 
stream open to us up to Muscle 
Shoals, in Alabama. The Mem- 
[jhis and Charleston Railroad 
strikes the Tennessee at Eastport, 
Mississippi, and follows close to 
the banks of the ri\er up to the 
shoals. This road, of vast im- 
portance to the eneni)-, would 
cease to be of use to them for 
through traffic, the moment Fort 
to Nashville — a place of great 
ntry extending far east in Ken- 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



115 




(gunboats, under F"lag-officer P'oote, had accompanied the advance. The transports we 
had with us had to return to Paducah to Ijring- up a division from there, with General C. 
F. Smith in command. When the landing was completed, I returned with the transports 
to Paducah, to hasten up the balance of the troops. I got back on the 5th with the advance, 
he remainder following as rapidly as the steamers could carry them. At ten oclock at 
night, on the 5th, the whole command was not yet up. Being anxious to commence 
operations as soon as possible, before the enemy could 
reinforce heavily, I issued my orders for an advance at i i 
A. M. on the 6th. I felt sure that all the troops would be up 
by that time. Fort Henry occupies a bend in the river 
which gave the guns in the water battery a direct fire down 
the stream. The camp outside the fort was intrenched with 
riflepits and outworks, two miles back on the road to Donel- 
son and Dover. The garrison of the fort and camp was 
about two thousand eight hundred, with strong reinforce- 
ments from Donelson halted some miles out. There were 
seventeen heavy guns in the fort. The river was very high, 
the banks being overflowed, except where the bluffs come to 
the water's edge. A portion of the ground on which F^ort 
Henry stood was two feet deep in water. Below, the water 
extended into the wood, several hundred yards back from the 
bank on the east side. On the west bank, Fort Heiman 
stood on high ground, completely commanding Fort Henrw 
It also was captured. The distance from F"ort Henry to 
Donelson is but eleven miles. Tilghman was captured 




;IGADIEK-GENEKAL I.t 



ii6 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




witli his staff and ninety men, as 




well as the armament of the fort, the ammunition 
and whatever stores were there." 

The result of this movement completely changed 
the complexion of affairs, for it again proved that 
the Confederate Irne was not impregnable, as they 
had so fondly imagined. Every eye in the North 
was now fixed on Grant, for his star had risen above 
the horizon. The importance of this victory for 
the Federal cause was at once recognized by the 
Northern people, and as it was evident that this 
Western General intended to attack Fort Donelson, 
his next movement was awaited with interest. By 
his capture of Fort Henry, Grant had showed that 
he was a strategist of no mean order, and a man 
who when he started out to fight, actually did do 
something. The seizure of this little fort had a 
refreshing effect and was therefore hailed with en- 
thusiasm and joy. It was a curious exhibition, for 
while Grant and I'oote were active on the Tennes- 
see River, the immense army intended for the 
capture of Richmond was idle on the Potomac. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



117 




OF Wati£k Battery. Fokt Donelson. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE FALL OF FORT DOXELSON, OX THE CUMBERLAXD RIVER. 



The news that Fort Henry had fallen, and that the Federal forces were preparing to attack 
Fort Donelson, roused General Halleck, and he at once started reinforcements for Grant 
from St. Louis, Cincinnati and Kansas. It will be remembered that Fort Donelson was 
located at Dover, Tenn., twelve miles southeast of F^ort Henry, on the west bank of the 
Cumberland River. The location of the fort was selected as a rear defense to Bowling 
Green, and also as a defense against the approach of the Federal troops on Nashville, by way 
of the Cumberland River. The Confederates believed that Fort Donelson would prove an 
effective barrier to the progress of the Federal forces into Tennessee. The railroad from 
Bowling Green to Memphis passed four miles south of it. So that the loss of these 
formidable fortifications meant to them the loss of all interior railroad communication. 
The characteristic energy of General Grant, as displayed by him in ever)' movement 
undertaken, was never so distinctly shown as by his operations against Fort Donelson. 
Before sunset on the day that Tilghman surrendered Fort Henry, Grant ordered a 
reconnaissance up the Tennessee River. Lieutenant Phelps, who conducted it, soon 
returned and reported that the river was entirely free, consequently there could be no real 
hindrance to a southward movement by the Federal forces. General Grant and 
Commander Foote then held a council of war to decide the question whether they should 
make an immediate advance on Donelson, or wait for the reinforcements they knew were 
coming. Foote seems to have been as good a fighter as Grant, for the conference speedily 



Its 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



resulted in the determination to take immediate action. Grant wisely inferred that the 
time he must lose in waiting for additional troops would be occupied by the Confederates 
in strengthening their position, and reinforcing the numerical strength of its garrison. But 
there was a slight delay, as Foote had to refit his gunboats, so it was not until Fel)ruary 12 
that the combined movement began. Grant started from Fort Henr)- with fifteen 
thousand men. The day was warm and bright, the telegraph and Dover roads were in 
excellent condition, and the troops, being Hushed with victory, were buoyant and hopeful. 
An hour before sunset, the entire Federal force on land had arrived within strikini^i- 
distance of Fort Donelson, and Grant got his men into position before sunset. The 
entire night was occupied in throwing up entrenchments and posting the batteries. These 
Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Indi- 
ana \'olunteers were already feeling that 
confidence in their leader, which it was 
Grant's exceeding good fortune to impart 
during all his subsequent campaigns. 
With his customary promptness, Grant had 
decided to begin the attack on the morn- 




ing of the 13th, but the gun- 
boats, which were convoying 
some transports carrying a part 
of Lew Wallace's Division, did 
not arrive as expected, and, as 
he was unwilling to risk a gene- 
ral engagement without his full 
force, Grant waited. General 
Floyd, who had been driven out of West Virginia by Rosencranz, had meanwhile 
arrived in Fort Donelson, and being superior in rank to General Pillow, had assumed 
command. The Confederate force, including the escaping garrison of Fort Henr)-, was 
about twenty-three thousand strong, and they had no less than ninety-five field and siege 
cannon. Supposing that the Federals were before him in full strength, Floyd opened fire, 
which was responded to. There was also some sharp-shooting by picked marksmen, 
followed by a dash on what was known as the Middle Redoubt. Colonel Hahn led his 
troops most gallantly, but the Confederates were strongly posted, and delivered a galling 
fire which compelled the Federals to withdraw. A similar effort on the left, by part of 
Lanman's Brigade, was equally unsucessful, the losses of the Federals being heavy, a result 
which greatly disheartened Grant's men, for they found themselves back on the ground 
they had occupied in the morning. To add to their discomfort, it began to rain verj- 
heavily, the thermometer fell and the rain was followed by sleet and snow. At midnight 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



119 



a severe frost set in and the temperature dropped to ten degrees below zero. As the 
Federals were without tents, and fires were denied them in order to conceal their line of 
battle, the men suffered terribly. Food was scarce, and the wounded cried aloud in their 
agony. Thus the night was spent, the young \'olunteers, learning for the first time that 
war is not altogether a matter of parade and review, but there is more horror and 
suffering than pageantry, attending the movements of large bodies of hostile troops. 

Recognizing the necessity of having every available man on the ground. Grant had 
sent orders to Lew Wallace, who had been made a Brigadier only a few davs before, to 




Charge of 211 Idwa hn Confederate Intrenchments at Fort Donelson, Fedruarv 15, 1862 



come up with his F"ort Henry garrison. He reported at noon of Februarj- 14, finding the 
little army in splendid spirits, despite their night of suffering. Foote also arrived with the 
transports, and the remainder of Wallace's division landed. By the arrival of this force, 
Grant was able to entirely invest Fort Donelson and its outworks, a task of no small 
magnitude, as the Confederates had completely enclosed the town of Dover by their 
fortifications, the entire line having a length of over two and a half miles. The transports 
had also brought an abundance of commissary and ordnance supplies, and as the men 
satisfied their ravenous hunger, preparations for a general assault were completed. It 
should be understood that while Grant was never rash, once he began to fight he did not 
know when he was beaten. Anyone who has seen this remarkable man in the field, must 
remember the massive jaw, denoting strong will-power, while the sweet smile that often 



THF Mr.}rORIAL WAR BOOK. 



lingered on his bearded face, so softened its expression that you recognized how calm and 
deliberate was his mental character. Though Grant had now all of his men in hand, he 
did not act rashly, for, knowing that Donelson \vas powerfully mounted with artiller)-, he 
realized that an assault upon the Confederate intrenchments would be attended by an 
enormous loss of life. He therefore decided to give P'oote and his gunboats an 
opportunity to repeat the service they had rendered on the Tennessee River. 

Grant's forces were now in the positions assigned them. JMcClernand's division held 




Members of Brigadiek-Ge.seil\l U. S Grant^s Staff. 



the right of the Federal line, with Smith's on the left, and Wallace occupied the centre. 
Instructing his three Division Commanders to preserve the line of investment intact, and 
stand ready to repel any attempt to break it. Grant sent word to Foote that he was to open 
the attack. The naval commander responded promptl\-, and at three o'clock in the 
afternoon, moved up the Cumberland River with four ironclads, two wooden armed vessels 
and the gunboat Carondelet, which had arrived a few days before. At the distance of a mile 
and a half, the ironclads opened fire, but no reply was made. The little fleet moved 
steadily forward, delivering a shower of shells, until it arrived within four or five hundred 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




yards of the batteries. Then the Confederates poured a plunging fire from twenty heavy 
guns that had been placed on the highest point of their fortified ground. Every shot told, 
but Foote pressed on until he silenced one of the upper batteries. The combat was, 
however, an unequal one, as the Louisville lost her rudder chains and drifted helplessly 
down the stream, the St. Louis, Foote's flagship, meeting a similar fate, the Commodore 
himself being wounded, and his pilot was killed. 

The flotilla having withdrawn in a disabled con- 
dition, Grant discovered that he had underestimated 
the Confederate strength, and that the tactics he had 
adopted at Fort Henry would not be successful at 
Donelson. He therefore consented that Foote should 
proceed to Cairo, and return with a fleet of sufficient 
strength to cope with the heavier metal to be encoun 
tered. Meanwhile the land forces were to continue 
perfecting their investment, and thus effectually shut 
up the Confederates. In fact, it was to be a siege, 
and the experience that Grant gained at Donelson 
subsequently proved of immense value at Vicksburg 
on the Mississippi, and at Petersburg on the James. 
.Speaking of his initial operations before Fort Donel- 
son, Grant says : " Fort Donelson is two miles 
north, or down the river, from Dover. The fort, as 
it stood in 1861, embraced about one hundred acres 
of land. On the east it fronted the Cumberland ; to 
the north it faced Hickman's Creek, a small stream 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



which, at that time, was deep and wide, because of the back-water from the river ; on the 
south was another small stream or ravine, opening into the Cumberland. This also was 
filled with back-water from the river. The fort stood on high ground, some of it as much 
as a hundred feet above the Cumberland. Strong protection to the heavj- guns in the 
water batteries had been obtairted by cutting away places for them in the bluff. To the west 
there was a line of ritle-pits some two miles back from the river at the farthest point. This 

line ran generally along the crest of highgrountl, 
but in one place crossed a ravine which opens 
into the river between the village and the fort. 
The ground inside and outside of this intrenched 
line was very broken and generally wooded. The 
trees outside of the rifle-pits had been cut down for 
a considerable way out, and had been felled so 

that their tops lay 
outwards from the 
entrenchments. The 
limbs had been trim- 
med and pointed, and 
thus formed an abatis 
in front of the sjfreater 




part of the line. I start- 
ed from Fort Henry 
with fifteen thousand 
men, including eight 
batteries and part of 
a regiment of cavalry, 
and, meeting with no 
obstruction to detain 
us, the advance arrived 

in front of the enemy by noon. That afternoon 
and the next day were spent in taking up ground 
to make the investment as complete as possible. 
General Smith had been directed to leave a portion 
of his division behind to guard Forts Henry and generaibishrod johnson, c.s. a. 

Heiman. He left General Lew Wallace with 

twenty-five hundred men. With the remainder of his division he occupied our left, 
extending to hlickman Creek. IMcClernand was on the right, and covered the roads 
running south and southwest from Dover. Flis right extended to the back-water up the 
ravine opening into the Cumberland, south of the village. The troops were not 
intrenched, but the nature of the ground was such that they were just as well 
protected from the fire of the enemy as if rifle-pits had been thrown up. Our line was 
generally along the crest of ridges. The artillery was protected by being sunk in the 
ground. The men who were not serving the guns were perfectly covered from fire on 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



123 



taking position a little back from the crest. The 
greatest suffering was from want of shelter. It 
was midwinter and during the siege we had rain 
and snow, thawing and freezing alternately. It 
would not do to allow camp-fires except far down 
the hill out of sight of the enemy, and it would 
not do to allow many of the troops to remain 
there at the same time. In the march o\'er from 
Fort Henry, numbers of the men had thrown 
away their blankets and overcoats. There was 
therefore much discomfort and absolute suffer- 
ing." 

As often happens in war, while the Confed- 
erate soldiers were rejoicing over their brilliant 
and complete repulse of Foote's gunboat flotilla, 
their Generals were seriously debating how best 
they could escape from Fort Donelson. Grant 
says, in his memoirs, that he knew General Floyd 
was in command in the Fort, and contemptuous- 
ly speaks of him as "no soldier," but while Floj'd 
was not an educated soldier, he knew when he 
was whipped. Having been so thoroughly trounc- mmir-genekal 

ed by Rosencranz on the Upper Potomac, he had no stomach for a similar lesson at 
Grant's hands on the Cumberland. So at the very moment Grant, McClernand, Smith 





, 8th Missouri, and iith Indiana, Leu bv Genekal Lew Wallace, at Four Do 



124 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



and Wallace were gazing blankly at each other, Floyd was not at all elated by his 
apparent success. Both he and Pillow felt much like a couple of rats that have been 
caught in a trap. They had already discovered that (irant was rapidly hemming 
them in, which fact led Floyd to believe that the Federal strength was greater than 
it really was. Floyd, having been Buchanan's Secretary of War, knew better than 
any other officer in the Confederate service how great were the resources of the Federal 
forces. He may have been a poor soldier, but he was no fool, and realized that the entire 
available force of the United States western armies would soon be arrayed against him. 
So, while the gunboats were getting ready to go to Cairo, Floyd called a council of war, 
when it was unanimously decided to swallow the bitter pill, and face the people of the 
Confederacy by evacuating Fort Donelson. The military genius of Grant is revealed by his 
simple statement in his memoirs, that he thought fifteen thousand men could do more 




The Sutler's Tent. 

i' ALL OLD SOLDIERS. " THf 



with Fort Donelson in February than fifty thousand might accomplish in March. It was 
this faculty of rapid decision, and a willingness to take reasonable chances, that has given 
Grant his exalted position in American history. 

Having resolved to get out of Fort Donelson, Floyd began to ponder on the best 
method of doing so. Acting on the advice of his subordinates, he determined to force a 
path around Grant's right, and so pass into the open country and march for Nashville. 
There were two roads suitable for this purpose, could he reach either of them, one was the 
Wynn's Ferry Road, leading from Dover through Charlotte, the other an undesirable route 
across the flats of the Cumberland. Owing to the sudden freshet, so frequent at that 
season of the year, the latter road was under water, so it was Hobson's choice, the Wynn's 
I-erry Road or none. A slight reconnaissance by a slender skirmish line revealed the 
presence of McClernand's troops. It was therefore decided that Pillow's division should 
make a strong attack upon McClernand's extreme right, while Buckner's division was to 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



125 




assault the Federal right centre and seize Wynn's 
Ferry Road. The Confederates hoped by this move- 
ment to force McClernand upon Wallace and event- 
ually roll back the line upon Smith, thus opening the 
way for a successful retreat. Buckner even thought 
that they might possibh' rout Grant's entire command 
and force it to embark on its transports. This daring 
plan was successful, so long as the original scheme 
was adhered to. On .Saturday morning, February 15, 
Generals Gideon J. Pillow and Bushrod R. Johnston 
started with ten thousand men. Colonel Baldwin's 
brigade having the advance. So quietly was the 
movement executed, that Oglesby's brigade, of Mc- 
Clernand's division, were surprised, and had to give 
way after exhausting their ammunition. Then almost 
the entire right wing fell back until it reached the 
Thirty-first Illinois, under Colonel John A. Logan. 
But " Black jack," as his men fondly called Logan, 
because of his coal-black hair and swarthy complex- 
ion, held his ground so hrml\-, that the threatened 

panic was averted. Then the Eleventh and Twentieth Illinois, of Wallace's division, 
came to Oglesby's support, followed by other regiments and some light batteries. 

The fighting finally grew so severe, as brigade after brigade of Confederate troops 
moved forward, that the situation of McClernand became a desperate one. Pillow's men 
poured in fierce and continuous volleys of musketry, supplemented by well-directed 
discharges of artillery. One position after another was taken and re-taken, )'et at eight 
o'clock no apparent advantage had been gained by either Federal or Confederate. 
McClernand on finding that his Inen were becoming physically exhausted, and also 
running out of ammunition, sent an urgent request to Wallace for immediate assistance. 
Now, Wallace had been a Brigadier scarcely a week, and as Grant had given him strict 
orders to hold the Federal centre at all hazards, he was in a quandary, especially as Grant 
was on a gunboat, in conference with Commodore Foote. The second message from 

McClernand announced that his flank had 
been turned. This decided Wallace's 
doubts, and he dispatched Cruft's brigade. 
Unfortunately, this slender reinforcement 
was guided beyond the P'ederal right and 
encountered a superior Confederate force. 
Nothing daunted, Cruft went into action, 
but was forced back, as were the com- 
mands under Oglesby, McArthur and W. 
H. L. Wallace. In this critical moment, 
Thayer's brigade arrived on the ground, 
with Lew Wallace at its head, and threw 
itself between the discomfited right wing 
and the victoriously advancing Confed- 
erate, a battery of light artillery, under 
Lieutenant Wood, doing splendid service 
in sweeping the road over which Pillow's 
columns were moving. As Wallace 




I2fi 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



deployed his forces and awaited attack, McClernand's men havini^ refilled their cartrid_i,rf. 
pouches, fell in a_i,fain and presented a firm front. The Confederates were, of course, 
ig^norant of this, and ascended the crest held by the Federals with overrontuleiice. When 
they came within musket range. Pillow's and Buckncr's men were asloundid al meeting- a 
well-directed withering series of volleys. .So terrific, indeetl, was this T'cdcral niiisketr\-, 
that the Confederates staggered, then reeled, and finalK' broke in confusion. Xo one can 
ever accuse either the Northern or Southern soldiers of cowartlicc. So it was 4iot 
surprising that the Confederates quickly re-formed and charged a second time lint their 
repulse was greater than before, and the men finally Hed to the shclti-r of ihcir cntrench- 
menls. 

While all this was going on, Grant was hastening to join his arm)-. He had heard 
the guns and was met by C aptainHillyer of his staff, who told him that everything seemed 




lost. The (General arrived soon after the final repulse of the Confederates, and saw that 
whichever side next took the offensive had the l)est chance of winning. .\l)out three 
o'clock in the afternoon he directed McClernand to advance and retake the line he had lost 
m the morning, at the same time ordering the right wing, under Smith, to move forward 
and attack Floyd'* right, while Wallace was to aid McClernand. The l)att]e thai ensued 
was hotly contested, but the Federals were animated by the presence of their Commanding 
General, and forced the Confederates inside their main line of fort.s. When tlarkness fefl 
on the scene Wallace was almost inside the fortifications. Then ensued a night of 
horrible suffering, for the thermometer fell to twenty degrees below freezing point. " Four 
thousand dead and wounded men lay scattered over the battle ground, many of the latter 
becoming frozen corpses before dawn. Grant had decided on making a general assault the 
following (Sunday) morning, but while he was sleepijig in a negro's hut. Flovd held another 
council. Pillow and Buckner coincided with Flovd that ' nothin- was' left them but 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



127 



capitulation. Floyd's only thought was — how was he himself to escape, for he feared 
punishment as a traitor, if made a prisoner. Finall)he threw up his command, and as Pillow 
declined to take it, the arrangement was made that Pillow should cross the river 
in a scow, while Floyd and his brigade embarked on board a steamboat, Buckner being 
left to endure the full humiliation of surrendering. General F"orrest also escaped with ten 
thousand horsemen. 

On Sunday morning, February 16, Buckner sent word to Grant that he would 
capitulate if allowed the honors of war. Grant's reply was a demand for unconditional and 
immediate surrender, adding that he proposed to move on the Confederate works at once. 
That settled it, and Grant not onl)' captured Fort Donelson, but he received sixteen 
thousand men as prisoners, including Generals Buckner and (ohnston, twenty thousand 
muskets, three thousand hnrsi's, s(\int<cn hca\'A^ guns, forty-eight field-pieces, and a large 




^^&^. 



Charge of 17TH, 48'rH and 49TH h [ i-.-:s - ■■. l'. 1 ! h >m 1 - 

cjuantity of military stores. The F"ederals had lost four hundred and fort)'-six killed, one 
thousand seven hundred and forty-five wounded, and a few prisoners, who had already been 
taken across the Cumberland. The additional losses of the Confederates were two hundred 
and thirty-seven killed, and one thousand and seven wounded, thus swelling their total loss 
to seventeen thousand, two hundred and fifty-four. Generals Grant, McClernand 
and Wallace were each promoted to a Major-Generalship, and the fame of the future 
Lieutenant-General spread through the North. Grant's forces before Donelson numbered 
twenty-seven thousand men, and additional reinforcements arrived during the day of the 
capitulation. A curious fact in connection with the movement is revealed in Grant's 
memoirs, and it may be considered the foundation of the high regard and esteem which 
existed between Grant and Sherman during the remainder of their lives. Grant thus 
relates it : " During the seige. General .Sherman had been sent to Smithland, at the mouth 
of the Cumberland River, to forward reinforcements and supplies to me. At that time he 
was my senior in rank, and there was no authorit)' of law to assign a junior to command a 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




senior of the same grade. But every boat that came up with suppHes or reinforcements 
brought a note of encouragement from Sherman, asking me to call upon him for anv 
assistance he could render, and saying that if he could be of service at the front I might 
send for him and he would waive rank." 
The capture of Fort Donelson had 
its natural effect on the people of both 
sections, the one was elated, the other 
depressed. As is well known. Grant 
received no official recognition from Hal- 
leck, the seeds of jealousy being alread) 
sown in the breast of the older General, 
who could not forgive his subordinate for 
winning so signal a victory. But Grant 
tasted of the delights of public praise, 
and he was content, as well he might be. 
Commodore Foote was promoted to Rear- 
Admiral, after the surrender of Island 
Number Ten. He had, however, so neg- 
lected the wound he received at I'ort 
Donelson that he died in June, 1863, much 
regretted by the nation he had so gallantly 
served. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



ii() 




CHAPTER XI. 



THE ('(IMUAT BETWEEN THE MONITOR AND THE MEKKIMAC. 



Among- the war vessels burned b)- the Federals during the evacuation of Gosport 
Navy Vartl, in April, 1861, was the steam frigate Alerrimac, carrying forty guns. Having 
raised the hull, the Confederates constructed upon it a gigantic floating battery, thickly 
armored with railroad iron, the heavy guns being protected by the roof-shaped covering. 
The Merrimac had also been provided with a solid steel bow, or ram, and she carried 
eleven large guns, with an English Armstrong one-hundred-pound rifled gun at each end. 
When completed she was considered to be the most powerful vessel afloat. Rumors were 
atloat at Fortress Monroe that some sort of floating batter)-, of tremendous proportions, was 
being constructed, but it was not until March 8, 1862, that she appeared in Hampton 
Roads. Two small armed steamers accompanied the Merrimac, and at the same time two 
other Confederate gunboats came down the James River, from Richmond, and took 
position just above Newport News, then in Federal possession. The simultaneous 
appearance of all these vessels betokened a preconcerted plan, and every axailable point of 
observation was soon occupied by the Federal soldiers, anxious to see what was going to 
happen, while signal guns were fired by the United States ships of war. Congress and 



130 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Cumberland, as they lay off Newport 
News. The sou nil of these sit^nals, 
given as a warning to the remainder 
of the Federal fleet, drew the attention 
of the Merrimac's commander, r'ranklin 
ISuchanan, an ex-Federal naval officer, 
and he at once headed his vessel towards 
llic Congress and the Cumberland. The 
latter ship swung across the channel 
anel opened a rapiil lire on the Merrimac, 
l)ut the heav)- eight and ten-inch solid 
shot irom her guns glanced from the 
sloping iron-shod sides of the Merrimac, 
though their weight fairh' stunned her. 
Then putting on steam, the Confed- 
erate vessel rushed upon the Cumber- 
land, striking her amidship with its steel 
prow, tearing open the sloop's side, at 
the same time delivering a terrible 
fire from its forward batteries. The 
Cumberland immediately began sinking, 
when the Merrimac drew back and then 
rammed her antagonist a second time. 
Lieutenant George Morris, who com- 
manded the Cumberland, saw that liis 
vessel was doomed, so emptying all the 
guns above water, told his men to jump 
overboard and swim ashore. As the)- 

obeyed, being compelleil to leave behind nearly one hundred sick and wounded shipmates, 

the Cumberland toppled over and sank in fifty-four feet of water, the tip of her topmast 

remaining above the surface of the water with the national ensign still Hying. The shore 

batteries now opened on the strange craft without 

effect, for the Merrimac. after shelling the Federal 

camp, headed for the frigate Congress, then busih 

engaged with the gunboats. Pouring in a deadly 

broadside the Confederate vessel smashed the Federal 

frigate, killing her commander. Lieutenant Joseph II. 

Smith, and many of his crew. The fire from the 

Merrimac's batteries being repeated with like dreadful 

results, Lieutenant Pendergast was compelled to hoist 

a white flag, his ship having been set on fire. 

To give the reader some idea of the stoical 

courage, and the stern professional character of the 

older officers of the United States Navy, in these 

trying and eventful da\s, it is only necessary to relate 

the following true incident. Lieutenant Smith's 

father, old Commodore Joseph Smith, was Chief of 

the Bureau of Yards and Docks, on dut)- in the 

Washington Navy Yard. On Sunday morning. 

March 9, one of the younger officers entered the 





THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



131 




13:: 



11 IE MEMORIAL WAR HOOK. 



Commodore's ro.^m. and sorrowfully announced the sinkmo- „f thr two Federal 
war ships by the Merrhnac. Commodore Smith silently ,ua/.ed into his informant's eyes 
fo'r a moment, and then, with a smothered sioh, said: "Then Joe is dead?" "Oh, nu," 
replied the youn<,^ Lieutenant. " It is said that the officers of the Congress surrendered and 
are prisoners." '" Vou don't know Joe." remarked the old \eteran sadly, yet prouclU'. " If 
Joe's ship is sunk, he's dead, for he wouldn't surrender, no more than I would." Later 
intelliijence confirmed the Commodore's belief in the stern couraue of his gallant son, for 
young Joe Smith had indeed fought his last fight. 

Despite the signal of siuTender on hoard the Congress, Buchanan continued to batter 
the ship, as she laj^too near shore to allow the use of the ram. B\- the time the survivors 
of the crew of the'doomed ship had escaped, a red-hot shell from the Merrimac entered the 







service magazine of the Congress, causing it to blow up with a deafening detonation. 
The Federal loss during those eventful two hours, was nearh three hundred killed and 
drowned, for none of the wounded escaped. While the ship, having the appearance ol a 
submerged house-top, was thus smashing and destroying everything in her path, the 
Federal frigate Minnesota was sent forward by Flag Officer Marston. his own ship, the 
Roanoke, being temporarily disabled in her machinery. The Minnesota got In'st within 
range of the battery at Sewall's Point, which crippled her mainmast, and then she ran hard 
aground about a mile- and a half from Newport News. Down came the Merrimac, but 
being of heavier draught than the Minnesota she was unable to get within a mile of her. 
Both vessels e.xchanged a rapid fire without result, but as the smaller Confederate vessels 
crossed the shallows the Minnesota gave them a severe dose of solid shot. Then the 
Merrimac and her attendant gunboats passed out of sight around Sewall's Point, her 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




'34 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



coininaiuU-r hcint,' \vt)uiKled. TIum-c was consternation in Fortress Monroe and among the 
l-'ciieral fleet and transports, for it was evident that the strange naval monster would 
apjx-ar the next day and continue her ravages. 

While ever)- preparation was made for the events of the Sahhath morning, \cr_\- few 
noticed a small vessel that arrived in the Roads ahoul nine o"clock thai night. Those who 
did see the visitor, were not particularly struci< by her appearance, for she was appan;ntly a 
small vessel, with a deck almost even with the surface of the water, with a circular iron box 
standing in the centre. Nevertheless, this warlike ship, the Monitor, was to revolutionize 
all previous methods of naval warfare. She was the invrnllon of John Ericsson, a .Swedish 




inventor, who had been a citizen of tlie TnitcHl States since 1S4J. when he invented antl 
built the first steam propeller in the world, she being the frigate Princeton. The appearance 
of the Monitor was " that of a cheese box on a raft " as was apth' saiil at the time she arrlxeil 
in Hampton Roads. She had been built purely on trial, and she nearh foumlered during a 
storm while on the way from New York harbor. It is now known that the Confederates 
were exceedingly well informed concerning the construction and possibilities of Ericsson's 
ship, for their secret agents were actualK" employed in the (ireenpoint Yard where she was 
built. It was the knowledge that the new vessel was coming that led CajJtain Buchanan to 
anticipate her arrival. The delays and difficulties encountered b_\ the inxentor during her 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



135 




construction, prevented his 
turning the vessel over to the 
government for several weeks 
after the stipulated date. Then 
she was duly manned, and 
Lieutenant |ohn L. Worden, 
her commander, was directed 
to proceed to Fortress Monroe 
"for official trial." On his 
arrival, Worden reported to 
Flag Officer Marston, and to 
General Wool, when he was 
told to proceed at once to 
Newport News, immediateh' 
on recei\ing an additional sup- 
pi)- of ammunition. "My 
instructions, W'orden, are to 

give )'OUr ([Ueer shaped craft tiKKET AM^ ,\,M of deck of OKIGIXAL monitor showing URNTSM^DE l.Vin,M..I,sllM,m.iM H.E 

a thorough and rigid trial," guns of i he mekkimac. 

remarked Commander Marston, very dryl)-, " and by the Lord Harr)', \ou will have 
it, if Frank Buchanan brings that turtle-backed monster of his out here again." W'orden 
smiled at the grim humor of his superior officer, for he alone knew the probable capacity 
of the vessel he commanded. 

It will be difficult to portray the actual consternation that prevailed at Fortress 
Monroe, and in Washington, over the appearance of the Merrimac, and the destruction she 
had effected. Every steamer and sailing vessel under contract to the Government that 
happened to be waiting orders in Hampton Roads, lost no time in departing, while the 
officers and crews of the few remaining war vessels prepared for sharing the fate of their 
comrades of the Congress and the Cumberland. Inside the fortress, and in the camps, it was 

believed that the Merrimac would 
be able to batter down the frown- 
ing granite walls of the fort. 
General Wool telegraphed to 
Washington that he expected to 
be attacked the next day, and it 
was supposed in the capital that 
the Merrimac would eventually 
blockade the mouth of the Poto- 
mac Ri\er. The crew of the 
Monitor were exhausted b)' their 
labors during the storm they had 
just passed through, Init they 
made every preparation for the 
anticipated " official trial." The)' 
took in the extra ammunition in 
the glare of the flames that were 
destroying all that was left of the 
Congress, and listened to the dull 
boom of her shotted cannon as 
they were discharged b)' the awful 




136 



Tin: MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



heat. Tlif L^allaiil slii|) luul Ix/cn l)urning brightly 
Inr t(.-n hours ami at oik; o'clock in tlic morning there 
was another e.\|)losion, as her magazine caught fire, 
A\^^\ the scene was left in darkness. 

Never did day break more bright and clear, than 
on that eventful Sunday morning. No trace was left 
of the Congress, except a floating mass of charred 
limbers and the dead hotlies of lu-r bra\e crew, but 
the Cumberland's flag was still Ihing near the surface 
of the water. l-"ng Ijefore the rexeillf hoiu', the 
sentries on the fortress and the war ships .saw the 
dreaded Merrimac slowly rounding Sewall's Point. 
Then the sound of her drums loeating to quarters 
floated on the air. and Lieutenant Worden at once 
got read)' to meet her. The Confederate commander 
headeil his armored ship towards the Minnesota, fully 
intending to capture her. When the stranger came 
within range of his guns, Captain \ an Brunt opened 
fire with his heaviest metal, but the shot glanced 
harmlessly, for in addition to being armored, the 
Merrimac had been coated with tallow. Then the Monitor slipped out from behind the 
Minnesota. She was saluted by a broadside from the Confederate Ram, then her 
turret revolved and an eleven-inch solid shot struck the Merrimac, causing the vessel 
to tremble from prow to stern. To his astonishment, Catesby Jones, who was now in 
command, discovered that his heavy broadsides had not a particle of effect upon the low 
turret of Ericsson's ship, so he decided to " ram " her. This just suited Worden for he 
delivered a shot from each of his two enormous guns, in rajjid succession, at the distance 
of only a few feet. Five times did the Merrimac try to sink the Monitor by running her 
down, but the latter a\oided the encounter by steaming round her cumbrous antagonist, 
seeking the Merrimac's portholes. Finally a steel bolt from one of the Confederate's 
rifled guns struck the turret, but stuck there like a leaden bullet in a tree, while the 





THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



m 




ponderous armor on the Merrimac was started in several places by the terrific punishment 
she had sustained. Then, like a bull in flytime, the Merrimac turned from her agile 

anta^ronist and attacked the Minnesota, but Van 

Brunt met her with a broadside and a ten-inch 
shot from his pivot gun. The discharge had no 
perceptible effect, though fully fifty solid masses of 
shots hit the iron mail, while the Minnesota was 
riddled by one of the huge Armstrong shells which 
tore open her internal economy in a most frightful 
way, and killed several men. 

Worden's men had by this time got a brief 
breathing spell, and refreshed themselves with a 
little rum and water, so the Lieutenant resolved 
to renew the contest. As he ap- 
proached, the Merrimac started for 
Norwalk, but the Monitor was not to 
be shaken off, and started in pursuit. 
Angered by what he deemed impu- 
dent pertinacity, Catesby Jones turn- 
ed and resolved to run her down. 
His huge steel beak grated on the 
submerged deck of the Monitor and 
was wrenched out of position, leav- 
ing the smaller vessel entirely un- 
harmed. Then ensued a scene never 
witnessed before in naval engage- 
ments. The two vessels were side by 
side, not ten feet apart, and discharg- 
ing shot of the heaviest calibre. 
These immense masses of solid iron 
rattled on the opposing armor, yet 
neither vessel was injured. Armor 
had for the first time been in actual 




'3S 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



conflict, and a orcat leap had been made in naval warfare. Then the Monitor hauled off 
to hoist more shot into her turret, and Jones, supposin;^ that W'orden was silenced, a^ain 
turned his attention to the shattered Minnesota, but before he could tire a shot the 
Monitor was back a^i^ain. Then one of her shells cracked the armor of the Merrimac at 
the water line, causing a leak, while a second penetrated one of the boilers, scalding several 
men. Finding the vulnerable point to be along the water line W'orden depressed his guns 
and with good effect. Jones now found that his vessel had at last met her equal, so he 
decided to go back to Norfolk. His last shot struck the Monitor's pilot house, ant! 
cutting the iron in two, severely wounded W'orden and knocked him senseless on the 

floor. Both Lieutenant Green, who was in command of 
the guns, and Chief Engineer Steiners, who was working the 
turret, were also stunned, but fliey recovered in time to 
keep the gunners at work. 

That was the end, for W'orden's condition prevented 
the Monitor following the Merrimac and she reached Nor- 
folk safely. Her defeat was a sad ending to the glorification 
of the citizens of that city during the previous evening, for 
it was evident that her career was ended. On the following 

^ ^^^^_^_^^^ iith of May, she was blown up by the Confederates, and 

^•^J^^JB^BSh^B^ during the following Winter, the Monitor foundered in a 

;ale Cape off Hatteras. 





When W'orden recovered consciousness his first words were : " Did we save the 
Minnesota?" So severe were his injuries that he was completely blind for a time, and 
after his removal to Washington, his life was for a long time despaired of. Congress gave 
him a vote of thanks, and he subsequently passed through the various grades until he 
reached the rank of Rear-Admiral. It is related that fVesident Lincoln called on W'orden. 
a few days after his arrival in the National Capital, and handed the brave, blinded sailor 
his commission as Commander. The patient was lying in bed. attended by his faithful 
wife, with his eyes closely bandaged, and as Mr. Lincoln sat down beside W'orden, the 
latter exclaimed : " Mr. President, you do me great honor ! " To which Lincoln replied : 
" No, sir. no. sir ; it is you who do me honor, and confer honor on the country." 

The result of the Monitors " official trial " caused the greatest rejoicing among the 
people of the Northern States, while it taught other nations that a new element had entered 
mto naval construction. Ericsson was ordered to go on building Monitors to his heart's 
content, while he received the cordial thanks of the President and the Secretarv of the Nav\ . 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



139 




CHAPTER XII. 



an attitude of 



()rEM.\<; 1)1- _M( (. I.Kl.l.AX S I'KMXSLI.AR, (AMI'AICX. 

During- the coml)ined arm\' and naval movements on the seacoast, and on the Western 
rivers, wliich resulted in tlie capture of Hatte^ras Inlet, Hilton Head, and Forts Henry and 
Donelson, it was noticeable that the Arm)' of the Potomac maintainec 
master!)- inactivit)-. General AlcClellan showed b\- 
his work of reconstruction, that he had few equals as 
a military organizer, but he was like the mechanic, 
who can make a superb musical instrument, without 
the genius or power to show its full capacity for pro- 
duction of sweet and harmonious sounds. The defect 
in McClellan's military genius was that he was more 
of an engineer than a general. He succeeded in pro- 
ducing a magnificent army out of the rawest material, 
but having forged his weapon, he was loth to use it, and 
so mar its symmetry and beauty. Yet, no General was 
more loved by his men than George B. McClellan. Had 
he possessed a tithe of Grant's dogged pertinacity, 
there is no question that the war would have ended 
at least a year sooner than it did. By the end of 
October, 1861, McClellan had gathered one hundred 
and twenty thousand men. They were divided into 
grand divisions and brigades, each with its appropriate 
quota of artillery and cavalry, and tlie\- hatl received 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



141 




KiA, Va., and Fa 



the best description of arms then known to military science. He had announced that 
a general movement would take place before the close of November, and the people 
anxiously waited for it. 
But on October 31, Gen- 
eral Scott formally resign- 
ed and retired from the 
fatigues of comma n d , 
which his advancing in- 
firmities rendered him un- 
able to endure. By com- 
mon consent, AlcClellan 
was selected for the posi- 
tion of commander-in- 
chief, and he no sooner 
became such, than he be- 
gan planning campaigns 
for the simultaneous cap- 
ture of Richmond and 
Nashville. He according- 
ly went to work increasing 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




Battle of Duainesville. 



The only seri 



-uKl soliclifvuv- tlie armies of the West, which caused more delay on his own. immediate front 
' ' ' ■"" nous ensa.tjement in the East, toward the close of 1861, was the Battle ot 

Drainesville, in 

Virginia, on De- 
cember 20. As 

the Confederates 

were very anno)'- 

i n g along the 

Upper Potomac, 

General McCall 

decided to strike a 

blow. Brigadier- 
General E. O. C. 

Ord was ordered 

to march with his 

brigade direct for 

1 )rainesville, while 

two otherbrigades 

u n d e r Generals 

George G. Meade 

and 1. F. Rey- 

BRIG.-GBN. G. A. MC CALL. - •' ' TUART 

nolds, were to ad- .-.knekal j. e i> ^ 

vance by way of Difficult Creek. Owing to the fact that Ord came up first, his command 
was the only one really engaged. Ord had five Pennsylvania regiments, the Sixth, Ninth, 





THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



143 



Tenth, and Twelfth, and the Bucktail Rifles, 
a regiment that became famous for its cool 
bravery on many a subsequent battle field. 
There were also with the column Easton's 
battery and five squadrons of Pennsylvania 
Cavalry. The Confederate force was com- 
manded by General J. E. B. Stewart, who 
lead the First Kentucky, Sixth South 
Carolina, Tenth Alabama and Eleventh 
Virginia Infantry, under Colonels Taylor, 
Secrest, Forney and Garland, Captain Cutt's 
battery and Major Gordon's North Carolina 
Cavalry. 

General Stuart had that very morning 
started from Drainesville with two hundred 
wagons to gather up supplies, and the 
Virginians and South Carolinians, who had 
the lead, were surprised to find the Federals 
already on the road. There was a change 
of position by the Confederates during which 
the Kentucky regiment mistook the South Carolinians for Federals, and delivered a heavy 
fire which being at very close range, did awful execution. This grievous mistake threw the 
Confederates into some confusion, and though Stuart made an effort to out-flank Ord, the 
movement was discovered in time to frustrate it. Then there occurred an incident that 
really ended the fight. 




TilE iALLV fOKT. 




144 



THE .MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Colonel Thomas Taylor, commanding the First Kentucky, came across a line of troops, 
which he took for another Confederate regiment. Remembering his previous error, Taylor 
called out, "What regiment is this ?"" The Ninth" was the reply. "What Ninth?" 
"The Ninth Pennsylvania," shouted the F"ederals as they poured in a volley which 
shattered the Kentucky line. General McCall reached the field after Stuart re-formed his 
men, and was emerging from a belt of woods on the Federal left. Colonel McCalmont 
immediately changed front, and Captain Easton opened with grape, which forced the 
Confederates to retire, an e.xample followed by the rest of the line. The Federal loss was 
seven men killed and sixty wounded, while Stuart had forty-three killed and one hundred 
and thirty-six wounded. There was no pursuit as the movement had only been a 
reconnaisance in force. 




November and December rolled by without any movement, although the weather and 
the condition of the Virginia roads were unusually fine, and favorable for extensive military 
operations. Week after week, the Northern newspapers contained the stereotyped 
announcement, " All quiet on the Potomac," and to this day the phrase has grown to be a 
sort of proverb to denote inactivity. While IMcClellan was thus tempering the metal of 
his magnificent army, the Confederates were organizing its opponent, the Army ot 
Northern Virginia. These two bodies of troops have become historic, for the endurance 
and dauntless courage displa)ed by them on many a hard-fought field. No wonder, 
therefore, that when they came in collision during the Summer of 1862, the struggle was a 
bloody one. It is pleasant for either the Federal or Confederate veterans, now that thirty 
years have softened the memories of those terrible campaigns, to meet with men who stood on 
the opposite side of the storm of shot and shell. The writer was on a Washington train, 
recently, and found himself seated in the smoking car beside a man who carried an empty 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



145 




sleeve. We fell into conversation, and I soon discovered that he had fought on the 
Confederate side. "Who did you serve with ?" I asked. " I was with Bob Lee, and served 
under Longstreet," he replied. "Were you at the battle of Gettysburg?" was my next 
question. "Yes. I left this arm there, where was you?" " At the Little Round Top, 
with the Fifth Corps. We drove you out of the Devil's Glen." " Yes, I remember. 
That was a hot corner, wasn't it ? Shake hands, old 
chap, them days is all over." So it is all the time, the 
men who fought during 1 86 1-5 think more of one 
another than they do of those who did not fight. 

On the 1 3th of January, a new character appeared 
on the stage of National events, for Edwin IVI. Stan- 
ton became Secretary of War, in place of Cameron, 
who was sent as Minister to Russia. The change 
was not intended to reflect on Secretary Cameron. 
On the contrary, it was his desire, as well as that of 
the other members of the administration, that the 
onerous and exacting position should be filled by some 
man, who, to more than ordinary intellectual abilit\ 
and force of character, added great powers of phys- 
ical and mental endurance. Of all the available men 
at that moment, Stanton was the man in whom thosi 
qualities seemed most united. He had already matlr 
himself conspicuous, during Buchanan's administra- 




146 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



tion, by exposing and defeating- the schemes of the conspirators who plotted for the 
seizure of Washington. Stanton's patience was completely exhausted by the inactivity 
of McClellan, and it was at his suggestion that the President issu<'d an order that 
on February 22, a general forward movement of the land and n;ual forces of the 
United States should take place ; that especially the army at or a1)out b'ortress Monroe, 
the Army of the Potomac, the Arm)- of Westerii X'irginia, tliu arm)- near Mumfordsville, 
Kentuckv, the ami)- ami ilolilla near Cairo, and the naval force in the (lulf of Mexico, be 
ready to move on that day. This was supplemented by another order, issued January 31, 
that all the disposable force of the Army of the Potomac, after duly providing for the 
defense of Washington, be formed into an expedition for the immediate object of seizing 
upon the railroad southwcstwanl of what was known as Alanassas |vmction. All the details 




were to be in the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief, but the expedition was to " move 
before or on the 2 2d day of February next." 

Grant obeyed, and Donelson fell, but McClellan did not set his columns in motion 
until the latter end of March. On the eighth of that month, the President again grew 
restive, for he issued a general order tli\-iding the Arm)- of the Potomac into four corps, 
under Major-Generals McDowell, Heintzelman, Sumner and Keyes. The divisions of 
Generals Banks and Shields were united and placed under the command of Panks. It was 
also ordered that the command of the Federal troops in the Mississippi X'alley and 
westward be placed in the hands of General Halleck, while a Mountain Department, 
covering the area between McClellan and Halleck, was assigned to Fremont. Another 
slap at McClellan was the intimation that department commanders were to report direct to 
Secretary Stanton and not through the Commander-in-Chief, as had been the rule. There 
were subsequent orders tending to hurry up McClellan, but they need not be quoted here. 
Then General Joe Johnston evacuated Manassas, leaving McClellan the undisturbed 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



14; 



possession of his earthworks and a lot of " Quaker " guns, made out of logs, so that when 
McClellan did move forward, his soldiers discovered that the enemy had stolen a march 
upon them. The President then relieved McClellan from command of all departments 
except that of the Potomac. 

■Roused by these reproofs, McClellan resolved on the Peninsula campaign, and his 
troops began moving to Fortress Monroe, as the future base of his operations. No man 
could be more energetic than George B. McClellan once he began, and it is therefore not 
surprising that he assembled on the Virginia Peninsula, one hundred and twenty 
thousand men of all arms, during the comparatively short period of five weeks. His army 
equipment consisted of two hundred and sixtj'-two pieces of artillery, twelve hundred 
wagons, one hundred ambulances, thirty thousand tents, fifteen thousand head of live 




cattle to be slaughtered for food, seven million pounds of hard Ijread, and other commissary 
stores, besides an ample quantity of ammunition for all arms. Some seventy-three 
thousand men were left to guard the approaches to Washington. It is not the purpose 
of the writer to touch upon the correspondence between McClellan and Lincoln, touching 
the disposition of the latter force, as it is not necessary to lift that sad curtain. Suffice it 
to say, the army went to the Peninsula, and waited for the orders of its loveil commander. 
The scene in Hampton Roads, during the landing of the Army of the Potomac, was 
a magnificent and thrilling one. Passenger steamers from the Penobscot, in far off Maine, 
from the noble Hudson, from Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Providence, 
New Haven, Albany, the Long Island Sound and Portland, were constantly passing up and 
down the Potomac river, or the Chesapeake Bay, loaded down to their guards with 
enthusiastic Volunteer soldiers and Regulars. Week after week, day after day, hour after 
hour, these steamers drew up to the long wharf, in front of the Fortress, and from early 



148 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



dawn until late in the afternoon of each day, regimcMit after regiment disembarked and 
marched to the position allotted its brigade. The music of brass bands trembled on the 
crisp, bracing air of March, the roll of drums dietl away in the distance, and the shrill notes 
of many bugles rippled across the water to the ears of those soldiers who were impatiently 
awaiting their turn to go on shore. As the never-ending column of armed troops passed 
up the wharf and disappeared around the southern angle of the frowning fortress, the bright 
colors of the regimental and brigade ensigns fluttered in the frosty sunlight, adding color 
and beauty to the picture. Meanwhile the other side of the wharf was occupied by 
rapidly changing transports, engaged in the work of discharging tents and other camp 
equipage, powder, shot and shell for the field batteries, horses for cavalry and artillery, 
cattle for food, mules for the supply trains, commissary stores, ammunition for small arms, 
cannon, caissons and w^agons, in fact all the complicated impedimenta of war. The wide 




expanse of Hampton Roads was covered by a countless fleet of vessels. White sails were 
hoisted and lowered as the ships arrived or prepared to leave. Noisy tugs puffed hither 
and thither, towing transports to and from the wharf, or in search of business. The hoarse 
whistles of huge steamers added to the roar of confused sounds, each signal being rudely 
answered by others. In the distance lay trim ships of war, their black hulls glistening in the 
bright sunshine. In their midst lay the little Monitor, her round turret forming an object 
that attracted every eye. It was indeed a picture to be seen once in a lifetime, and never to 
be forgotten as long as memory lasts. To the spectator it w^as the realization of that pomp 
and circumstance of war, which in all ages has been the admiration of mankintl. It v.as a 
scene to make the heart beat faster, and the cheek to glow with pride. Here was activity 
and apparent purpose, and as the sunset gun from the fortress boomed over Hampton Roads, 
each recurring evening the army took shape and increased power. The magnitude of this 
movement can be better appreciated, w'hen it is said that the transportation of troops and 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



149 




Killing Bullocks in Federal Ca 



supplies required the services of one hundred and twenty steamers, over two hundred 
sailing vessels and ninety barges, during a period of thirty days. Both soldiers and 
citizens looked forward with eager expectation for the result of the approaching campaign, 
for its full magnitude was better understood than it can be at this period of time with the 
softening influences caused by the lapse of over thirty years. 

April I, every 
man, horse and mule, 
e\'er)' cannon a n d 
musket, had been 
landed and on the 
morning of April 3, 
the advance guard of 
McClellan's splendid- 
1 }'-ap po i n ted a r m y 
marched forward, 
closely followed by a 
mighty column of en- 
thusiastic troops. 
The Peninsula cam- 
paign that was to ac- 
complish so much and 
end in the capture of 
Richmond, the Con- 
federate Capital, had 
at last beirun. 




Till'. MF.MORIAI. WAR HOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



151 




CHAPTER XIII. 



THE SIEGE AND FALL OF VORKTOWN. 



The advance of McClellan's army from Newport News' and Fortress Monroe, on 
April 3, 1862, was a grand and imposing one. One column under General Heintzelman 
marched up the old Yorktown Road, past Big Bethel, while the other, under General Keyes, 
moved over the Warwick road. Two days after, April 5, the head of the columns reached 
a line of fortifications in front of the town of Yorktown, the curtain extending from the 
banks of the York River to Warwick Creek. General 
John B. Magruder was still in command of the Confed- 
erate army of observation, his total force being at that 
time about eighteen thousand men. To maintain his line 
Magruder had placed garrisons on Mulberry Island, in the 
James River, and at Gloucester Point on the York, oppo- 
site the town. Viewed from in front, Magruder's earth- 
works had a formidable look, and as he had some heavy 
guns mounted on both sides of the York River, they com- 
manded the channel. At that time McClellan had sixty 
thousand men assembled in front of Yorktown, with 
eighty thousand more rapidly following him, yet so wedded 
was he to routine, that scarcely a shot had been fired until 
April 16, when it was discovered that the Confederate 
were at work strengthening their entrenchments on Var- 
wick Creek. Two batteries and one Vermont regiment 
advanced and opened fire without much result, though the 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



153 




Vermonters did make a charge, the simple reason being that instead of a regiment, 
three brigades should have been sent forward. By the 20th of April, the Federa 
numbered about one hundred thousand men, fully thirty thousand more arriving i 
of Yorktown during the ensuing week. This enormous body of men was massed 
great camp, while theirGeneral amused 
himself in constructing a line of forts 
in which were mounted forty or fifty 
one-hundred-pound Parrott rifled 
guns, besides others of smaller calibre, 
and many large mortars. The appear- 
ance of the Army of the Potomac, as it 
lay in camp, was both formidable and 
impressive. As far as the eye could 
reach, symmetrical rows of snow-white 
tents covered the wide fields. To 
give them exercise, the soldiers were 
constantly drilled, but there were no 
cannon shots to be heard, and only 
the pickets heard the whistle of a bul- 
let. The strange spectacle was thus 
presented of an army sitting down in 
comparative idleness, in front of a 
force about one third its own strength, 
for McClellan's procrastination had 



two or 
1 army 
n front 
in one 




CAPT CUSTER, 



CONFEDERATE PRISONER, 



154 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Battery No. 4 in Front of Yokktown. 

enabled the Confederates to reinforce Magruder with thirt); thousand additional troops. 
The headquarters staff of the Commandino; General was a brilliant one, for it included 
man)- foreign officers who had come to see how Americans made war. Among these were 

the Prince de Joinville, the 
Due de Chartres, and the 
Comte de Paris, while Ger- 
many, Italy, Russia and other 
nations were officially repre- 
sented. IMcClellan had vis- 
ited the Crimea a few years 
before and witnessed the 
closing scenes of the siege 
of Sebastopol, the capture 
of the Redan and the Mala- 
koff. He saw the pomp and 
show of Louis Napoleon's 
army, and he aimed at imi- 
tating Canrobert and Pelis- 
sier, so it was not surprising 
that officers he had met in 
Europe gladly responded to 
his invitation to serve on 
his staff. General McClel- 
lan made a verv hantlsome 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



I5S 




Batteky No. I IN Fkost oi- Yokktown. 



IS6 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



appearance on horseback, for he sat in the saddle with a i^race and ease peculiarly 
his own. All his appointments were in the most correct taste, and his horses ^vere 
full-blooded animals. Wearing highly polished ridiny boots coming up nearly to his 
hips, and wrinkled from the instep to the knee, he would go splashing over the roads 
until horse, rider, and boots were covered with Virginia mud, probably the stickiest 
substance in existence. His servant always had a clean jiair of boots for the General 
on his return to headquarters, after which the poor man would spend a couple of 
hours cleaning the other pair. The soldiers at Yorktown used to say that "Little Mac" 
could collect more mud in an hour's time than any other General in the ami)-. McClellan 
was passionately fond of horses, and preferred to have them coal black. 




No other olficer during the war possessed such magnetism over his troops as did 
McClellan. To see him ride by a moving column was a pleasant experience. " How is 
the road, boys?" he would ask, genially. And then the men would cheer, as if they had 
gone crazy. He was always looking out for cases of distress. After the battle of South 
Mountain, while the Army of the Potomac was advancing to Antictam, the General found 
a wounded man by the roadside. As the poor fellow could not walk, McClellan leaped 
from his saddle and assisted" the soldier into it, sending an orderly with him to the field 
hospital. As McClellan mounted the orderK 's horse, his chief of staff asked why he did 
not send the inferior animal, instead of his own. "Because," replied Little Mac, "a 
General's horse is not too good for a brave and wounded man." General McClellan always 
rode at a slapping pace, and saw that his staff were well mounted, for nothing more 
displeased him than their inability to keep up with him. He was very cool on the 
battlefield, and used to ride from point to point in the calmest manner. Selecting an 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Battery No. 4 in Fkont of Yorktown. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




VOKKTOWTJ, 



auvantciij^eous position, 
he would survey the 
field of operations 
throuL,di his glass, the 
horse under him mean- 
while champing' and 
pawing until checked 
by a motion of the reins. 
Without attempting the 
cavalr\- seat or style, 
McClellan had at all 
times a perfect com- 
mand over his charger. 
The density of the 
camp at Yorktown, and 
ilie close proximity of 
an extensive swamp, 
soon caused disease, for 
soldiers are proverbially 
careless of sanitary 
arrangements, while it 
is diliicult to keep clean 
and healthy on ground long occupied. The consequence was that instead of going 
up the Peninsula, thousands of men were carried to hospitals in Philadelphia, Baltimore 
and Washington, where a large percentage died, McClellan actually losing, in that way, 
more men than need have been sacrificed by a general assault on the Confederate works. 
General Johnston had meanwhile taken command at Yorktown, and waited patiently to 
see what his antagonist would do, having already decided on his own course should he 
be finally attacked in 
force. McClellan's men 
went on p\tiently dig- 
ging long lines of earth- 
works that were never 
to be occupied, and 
mounting guns which 
were never loaded. Thr 
General did open fin 
once from a fort oppo 
site Gloucester Point. 
and so destro) ed a wa- 
ter battery. He alst< 
onlered a few emptx 
Parrott shells thrown 
into ^ orktown in order 
to show the Southern 
troops what they might 
expect. W e s u b s e 
quently found thesis 
empty shells standing 
on posts, in the dusty 




i CONFEDERATE .MAGAZINES. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



159 




Confederate Foktifications at Yokktown 



i6o 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




.■AKTERS ASMY OF POPOMAC, 



Streets of the town, with contemptuous inscriptions painted upon them. Joe Johnston, 
however, was not to be frightened by such absurd devices, but knowing through his spies, 
who were pemiitted to wander through the Federal camps in the gajise of pedlars, that 

McClellan's siege guns were at last ready, the Confed- 
erate commander decided to evacuate Yorktown, and 
fall back to his selectet,! line of defence, between the 
Pamunkey and James Rivers. 

With the advent of May. McClellan had perfect- 
ed his line of entrenchments, they containing fifteen 
batteries, mounting eighty heavy cannon and thirt)' 
huge mortars, enough metal to blow Johnston's army 
into the air. Malaria and fever had reduced the 
Army of the Potomac from one hundred and fortj' 
thousand men to about one hundred and twelve 
thousand, these twenty eight thousand disease-disabled 
soldiers not having fired a single shot. What a con- 
trast to P'ort Donelson ? The writer stood beside 
his huge Parrott gun. a few yards from the York 
River bank, on the evening of Saturday, May 3, look- 
ing across the fields at the line of works we were to 
bombard. The order had been given that the Sab- 
bath was to be spent by the army in idleness, but on 
Monday morninir all the iruns along the line were to 




TS DC rAlclSv 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



i6i 




Pkinck ni! J0INVILI.E, Dv 



Prince de Joinvm.i.e, Dl'Cde CiiAuiKEt. ,\m, C\^ 
.E Chartres, Com IE de Paris and Foreign Offi 



UK I'AKis AT Mess Table. 
ANO Staff AT Genera,. Mi Ci 



77//: MEMO RIAL WAR BOOK 







THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



i6s 



open and the infantry were to form in mass ready to move at the proper moment. Our 
magazines had been crammed with shot and shell and we looked forward to the proposed 
bombardment with considerable satisfaction. I remember that I was wondering how lonu- 
It would take our guns to demolish the Confederate entrenchments, when suddenlV a cannon 
was fired right opposite me, and a shell flew over our heads. Then another and another 
columlMad had opened, followed by mortar shells. 

Here was an unexpected programme, for instead of bombarding Yorktown, we 
were receiving the punishment. Our Colonel asked leave to reply, but he received 
strict orders to remain silent, as did all of the Federal batteries. From eight o'clock in 
the evening until almost dawn, the Yorktown batteries maintained a continuous, but 




MD ToFOGRArHK 



General McCl 



ineffectual fire. As the first streaks of daylight began darting athwart the Eastern sky, a 
negro timidly crept along the narrow path by the side of the river. The Federals had by 
this time grown accustomed to receiving fugitive slaves on their picket lines, so the man was 
permitted to approach. " Hullo, here's another contraband," exclaimed one of the men 
composing the little vidette, "Wonder how he got out of Yorktown ?" " Fse jest kem ober 
to tell youse, dat dey he's all gone," said the negro. " Who's gone ?" demanded the young 
Lieutenant. " Why dem Southern sodgers. Dey's bin a marching up country all dis 
blessed night, with all de cannon, and de muskets, and de wagons. I)e fac is, mister 
Ossifer, Marster Magruder he's just got up and gone clar 'wa)." " He must be hing," 
remarked a sergeant. " How could the Confederates serve their batteries if the army was 
in motion ?" " Fse telling the gospel trufe," replied the contraband. " bor I know'd dey 
was a going, and I jest hid and waited. De last of dem got away jest as de day was a 
breakincj." 



164 



77//:" MEMORIAL WAR nOOK. 



The contraband was sent to the rear under _o;uard, his news soon spreading along the 
advanced Federal line. Tlu'n, as the sun rose above tin: horizon, we could see groups of 
citizens coolly walking along the Confederate paraj^ets. "\'orktown is evacuated !" then 
ran along the line of entrenchments, and some general officers suddenly appeared near our 
battery. There was a great deal of galloping about by officers belonging to the 
headquarters staff, and by eight o'clock the head of a column of infantry came up, and 
pushed forward across the fields, disappearing soon after amitl the defences of Yorktown. 
Then more troo])s marched through the gap that had been made in our fortifications for 
their passage, antl b)- noon the entire army was in motion. The siege of \ orklown was 
over, and we had dug trenches, and mounted heavy cannon, only to lea\e tluin bcliind. 




Our men, who belonged in the batteries, strolled into Yorktown l)y the river road, but 
were quickly recalled to take their places in the moving columns. 

The Confederates abandoned fifty-three pieces of heavy artillery, and took up position 
at Williamsburg, twelve miles from Yorktown, where they were found by General George 
Stoneman. who had only cavalry and horse artillery. He was followed by the divisions of 
Generals Darius N. Couch, William F. Smith and Silas Casey, which took the Wynne's 
Mill Road, while the divisions of Generals Joseph Hooker and I'hil Kearne\ , entered the 
Yorktown Road. The divisions of Generals Fitz John Porter, Israel B. Richardson, and 
John Sedgwick, remained in the immediate vicinity of Yorktown, where General McClellan 
began his arrangements for operations along the York River, and into the Pamunkey. 
Stoneman halted in front of the earthworks, as his cavalry were of little use. By five 
o'clock in the afternoon, General Smith's division arrived, followed closely by Sumner and 
Hooker. W hile these division commanders were forminij line of battle a hea\\- rainstorm 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Scenes in and near Yokktown. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




Monitors and Glndoats on James Ki\f.K. \/ 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



167 



began which drenched the men to the skin and extinguished their bivouac fires. Despite 
the discomfort experienced during the night, Hooker's men were eager for a fight on 
Monday morning, so he sent in the F"irst Massachusetts, and the Second New Hampshire, 
to attack Fort Magruder, the principal Confederate work on the Federal right. The fort 
was soon silenced, and Hooker moved forward with his entire division, encounterino- a 
strong force under Longstreet. Being of an impetuous nature. Hooker pressed on too 
ardently, and soon found himself all alone in front of a sujaerior force, but he maintained 
his position during theday. Phil Kearney's division did not arrive on the ground until near 









^-~-»- 






f- 


^ * 






% 

^ 






'<f^ 


^ 


.%f^- 


», 


yj 




^31 


1^ 


1 


mHB 


\ 


^k^I^^^^^V^^mI^I 


r 


1 1^ j^^B > ^.^^y 


y 


n 


8 





five o'clock in the afternoon, two of Couch's brigade joining him in time to take position on 
his right. General Winfield Scott Hancock had gone towards Queen's Creek, further to 
the right, but it was impossible to bring up more troops, owing to the terrible condition of 
the roads, they being knee deep in mud, caused by the heavy rain during the prevlou 
night. Hooker had been fighting Longstreet, Pryor, Pickett and Gholson all day, his loss 
being seventeen hundred men and nearly all of Capt. Weber's battery. 

General Hancock had better luck, for he was able to push forward to Cub Dam Creek 
and capture two redoubts. This caused Johnston to despatch General Jubal Early to 
dislodge Hancock. The latter fell back to the creek, and, forming in line, charged the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



169 




Orderlies and S 



Confederates in most o;allant st\'le. Early had already been wounded, leavinor Colonel 
McRae in command of his brirade, but the latter could not stand the shock, and finally 




Tabd's House, Yorktown 



rUE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




retired to Williamsburg in the darkness that soon 
fell on the scene. This part of the battle was 
noticeable for the courage displayed by both Federals 
and Confederates, and Hancock afterwards remarked 
that the b'ifth North Carolina anil Twenty-fourth 
X'irginia deserved to have the word "Immortal" 
inscribed upon their banners. It was Hancock's 
headlong charge that decided the da\-, for bv it 
he seized the key to the Confederate position. 
!\IcClellan, arriving on the ground, then sent rein- 
forcements to Hancock, who took possession of all 
the ground he had previously occupied. The night 
closed upon what proved to be a dear victory for the 
Federals, as they only gained it after sustaining a 
loss of over two thousand in killed and wounded, 
the Con feder- 
ate loss being 
a little more 
than half that 
number. When 



daylight came, it was found that the Confederate 
army had fallen back to Hanover Court House, 
and McClellan began what he fondly imagined to 
be his triumphal march into Richmond. But he 
had no conception of the difficulties in his path or 
the military genius of the Confederate commanders 
who were to dispute his passage. 

The evacuation of Yorktown brought President 
Lincoln to the Peninsula, with several members of his 

Cabinet. The 





GENFRAL GE 



. ROGER A. PRVOR, 



President was 
not at all elated 
by the retreat 
of the Confed- 
erates, for, as he remarked in his quaint, homely way, 
it reminded him of a man in Illinois who got into a 
fight and came out with a bloody nose and a torn coat, 
but seemed satisfied because the other fellow had no 
coat to get torn. "General McClellan," said he, "has 
driven Johnston and Magruder out of Yorktown, but 
they took their own time about it. I had a client once 
who wanted to get rid of a tenant who would not pay 
his rent. He wanted me to begin legal proceedings 
for ejectment, and I made out the preliminary papers, 
telling him that the court would not open until the 
following month. Before court tenn came, the tenant 
found a house that suited him better than the one he 
was not paying for, so moved away. My client came 
to me next day, and gleefully announced that he had 
got rid of his tenant, so I might stop all proceedings. 



I 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




1/2 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 














W^M^ 







THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



1:73 




OR White Hoise Landing. 

Generals Franklin, Slocum, Bakrv, Newton . 



AL Andhew Porter and Staff. 



at the same time paying me my fee. I asked him how much the tenant owed him, when 
he repHed that it wasof no consequence, so long as he had got rid of him. So you see 
General McClellan seems satisfied not to count the cost. He unl)' looks at results, and 
we must be content, but it does 
seem to me that we have paid 
too much for our whistle." Gen- 
eral Wool, who was still in com- 
mand at Fortress Monroe, then 
spoke for the third time of the 
necessity for seizing the Norfolk 
(Gosport) Navy Yard, as it had 
always been a menace to the 
Federal lines. He again asked 
for permission to use the army 
and navy resources at his com- 
mand to attack Norfolk and 
destroy the Navy Yard. The 
President cast his eyes upon 
the floor, and, as everybody 
remained silent for a few seconds, 
he straightened his tall, uncouth 
figure, and said : — " General 
Wool, you know more about 




174 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE CONFEDER 



this matter than either Secretary Stanton, Secretary Welles, or myself. If you really 
think you can take the Navy Yard, I see no reason why you should not. At any rate 
you can't lose much." 

Acting on this implied permission, General Wool began operations against Norfolk, 
and the result was that the Confederates evacuated, first destroying the Merrimac and all 
other military and naval property. This movement and the advance of McClellan's troops 
to the Chickahominy, forever removed the Confederates from control of that section of 
Virginia. The York and Pamunkey Rivers being opened, the base of operations for the 

Army of the Potomac was made at the White House, 
and McClellan began his confident preparations for 
capturing the Confederate capital. But he was 
facing generals who had no sentiment or fear, 
and they made moves on the board he never 
contemplated, and were thus able to cry "check" 
just when he thought the game of war was his own. 
The same lavish expenditure of mone)' and 
supplies, for which McClellan's movements were 
always noticeable, characterized his subsequent cam- 
paign. Enormous quantities of ordnance and 
commissary supplies were gathered at the White 
House, despite the fact that this base of operations 
was entirely untenable, and incapable of defense. 
Trusting to a few small gunboats to guard his 
food, ammunition, engineering tools, hospitals and 
reserve supplies, the enthusiastic young general 
plunged his army into the dreadful swamps of the 
Chickahomin)", to do battle with a foe whose calibre 
he had nc;t dul)' measured. The result of this 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



175 




Panoramic Views of Cami- near Cumberland Landing. Army of the Potomac. 



176 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




VjEw OF Camp. Army of the Potomac, at CfMnERLANu Landii 



mad, headlong movement must be left to future chapters, for the important events 
of the war at that time were occurring elsewhere. 




THE WHITE HOUSE, FORMER RESIDFNCE OK MRS. C^srER HARRISON. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



U7 




Island No. Ten. Co 



Fortifications on Kentuck 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE CAPTURE OF ISL.VND NUMBER TEN, 

By the capture of Forts Henry and Donelsc 
Columbus to Bowling Green was completely 
broken. The Federals gained possession of 
Kentucky and the greater part of Tennessee, 
with the State Capital. It must be admitted 
that Grant's magnificent success was mainly 
due to the incapacity of Albert Sidney Johnston 
in his disposition of the Confederate forces. 
When the fall of Fort Donelson was announced, 
the .Southern troops promptly evacuated 
Bowling Green and marched South. Columbus 
and Nashville fell into the hands of the h'ed- 
erals, while desperate efforts were being made 
to hold the Mississippi River for the Confed- 
eracy by strongly fortifying Island Number 
Ten and New Madrid. To General Pope and 
Commander Foote was given the task of re- 
ducing these strongholds. Both places had 
been fortified in the most elaborate manner by 
General Beauregard, whose engineering genius 
grasped their importance. There is no ques- 
tion that Beauregard was really one of the 
most talented officers in the Confederate ser- 
vice. His training in the United States regular 
army made him a great tactician, and the ex- 
perience gained by him as superintendent of 



AND THE BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE. 

)n, the Confederate line of defense from 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




;?^ AT I-L-'L>L NlMBEK Te 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



1/9 



the West Point Academy, gave Beauregard 
such a grasp of military science that he was 
invaluable at the time hostilities began between 
the sections. This is shown by his fortifica- 
tion of the harbor of Charleston, and the way 
he hr.ndled his troops at Bull Run. But it 
was his misfortune to rise too rapidly at the 
outset, consequently when serious work began, 
he was thrust into positions which were unten- 
able, and being lost, his reputation suffered. 
Both on the Federal and Confederate side it 
was the fate of those Generals who rose rapidly 
at the beginning of hostilities, to be more 
severely judged than those who attained high 
commands after the people of both sections had 
learned that two opposing armies cannot 
possibly win the same battle. 

General Beauregard's record, as a military 
commander, stamps him as possessing genius, 
perseverance and fertility of resource, and had 
President Davis treated him more fairly, his 
career would have been more brilliant. The 
General made a very handsome appearance 
in the saddle and all his appointments were in 
the most correct taste. He was loved by his 
troops, for he was as ready to lead them as 





i8o 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



order a chariL^rf. I lis French descent gave his features a foreign cast, so that Bcaure'^anl 
di(.l not look like any of the Generals on the Confederate side. 

Beauregard had been very active in the West, and was now at the head of the 
Confederate Department of the Mississippi. He placed a large force under General I. P. 
McGown, at New Madrid, while the garrison on Island Number Ten was under his 
own commantl. 

On Washington's 15irtlula\-, in 1S62, General Pope started from St. Louis with a 




large force, arriving before New Madrid, seventy-six miles below Cairo, on March -„ 
finding a flotilla of Confederate gunboats, under Commodore Hollins, in addition to the 
land forces. Making an entrenched camp. Pope waited for siege guns , which, being placed 
in position, he began bombarding on March 13. The Confederate reply was vigorous, but 
the Federals silenced several guns in Fort Thompson, disabled most of the gunboats,' and 
pushed back the line held by Generals J. M. Palmer and E. A. Paine. A terrific storm of 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



i8i 




Bombardment of Island No. Ten. Gi-n and Mortar Bo.\ts. 

rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, was taken advantage of by McGown to 
evacuate New Madrid and Point Pleasant, the whole Confederate force being transferred 
to Island Number Ten. The following morning General Hamilton advanced and took 
possession of the forts, capturing thirty-three pieces 
of heavy artillery, six thousand muskets, and a vast 
amount of ammunition, supplies and camp equipage. 

Commodore Foote was meanwhile coming from 
Cairo with a fleet of gunboats, consisting of the Benton 
(flagship). Lieutenant Phelps ; Cincinnati, Commander 
Stembel ; Carondelet, Commander Walke ; Conestoga, 
Lieutenant Blodgett ; Louisville, Commander Dove ; 
Mound City, Commander Kelley ; Pittsburg, Lieutenant 
Thompson ; and .St. Louis, Lieutenant Paulding. He 
had also ten mortar boats, some small tugs and several 
transports carrying Colonel Heck's Fifteenth Wisconsin 
and Colonel Buford's Twenty-seventh Illinois. The 
Commodore took possession of the town of Hickman 
on March 15, tying up his fleet five miles above Island 
Number Ten, where two more transports arrived with 
two field batteries and the .Sixteenth and Forty-Second 
Illinois Infantry. 

On Sunday, March 16, the brave old Commodore 
notified General Pope that he was ready and the 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



bombardment began as soon as the crews and orunners had eaten their breakfasts, 
when the ijuns and mortars continuetl to vomit a fierce discharge of shells and 
bombs, until half-past-four in the afternoon. It was a strange and remarkable scene, for 
all of the queer, flat bottomed, box-shaped mortar boats had been pushed into the 
canebrake, as they were scattered along the edge of the winding and mighty river. As the 
gunners loaded and fired their large siege pieces, a tremendous roar rose from the brakes 
which concealed the boats, followed by the uncouth sound caused by the passage of the 
bomb, as it climbed into the air or fell with increased velocity on reaching the apex of its 
(light. Scarcely a minute passed throughout the day without one or more missiles being in 
the air, the deafening detonations being distinctly heard at the distance of twenty miles, the 
inhabitants of that war-torn region, listening to the uproar with bated breath. The 
Confederate guns made no reply whatever, and it was soon evident that the Federal fire 
had been ineffectiv(>. The cnirineering skill of Beauregard was shown b\' the wav he had 




Night Attack on Isl 



constructed his works, for they were in triple rows, wherever an assault was possible, and all 
of the seventy-five guns were of heavy calibre, besides an ironclad floating battery. 

Finding that long range work was of no use, Foote sent the Second Illinois Batter)' to 
the Missouri bank of the river, where Lieutenant Keith opened at close quarters on the 
Confederate gunboats, and drove them away. On Monday, a thick fog settled down on 
river and land, so the firing did not begin until near noon. The Federals had meanwhile 
lashed the gunboats Cincinnati, St. Louis and Benton, together, and so made a battery. 
Pushing close to the Confederate forts, and supported by the remainder of the fleet, the 
Federals soon succeeded in silencing several of Beauregard's heaviest guns and smashed the 
earthworks. At seven o'clock the fleet withdrew, as it was too dark for the gunners. 

Day after day the attack was renewed, but nothing was accomplished until late in the 
night of April i, when a party of volunteers from the Forty-second Illinois under Colonel 
Roberts, started off in rowboats and muffled oars manned by picked crews. A violent 
storm was in progress at the time and the boats reached the battery on the upper end of 
the island without discovery until they were right on the bank. The Confederate sentinels 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



183 




fired and retreated, the Federals contentint;; themselves in spiking every gun, and then 
rowing back to the fleet. 

During the night of April 3, the gunboat Carondelet ran past Beauregard's batteries, 
encountering a terrific broadside from his guns, but Commander Walke had not a man 
hurt, neither was the gunboat injured. Then General Pope decided he must do something, 
and adopting General Hamilton's suggestion, a canal was cut across Donaldson's Point, 
between New Madrid and Island Number Eight, a distance of twelve miles, advantage 
being taken of swamps and bayous in its construction. Through this canal, which cost 
nearly a week's labor on the part of his entire army, some floating batteries, led by the 
steamboat W. B. Terry, passed through and opened a destructive fire on Island Number 
Ten, from a point not defended by earthworks. Troops were also landeil at Tiptonville 
and Watson's Landing, General Paine moving up the 
river road while General Hamilton went round Reel- 
foot Lake. Commodore Foote then began a general 
bombardment from all of his vessels and batteries, 
while the Confederates were driven back at all points 
by the land forces. Seeing that his position was no 
longer tenable, Beauregard decided to evacuate Island 
Number Ten. 

He sank several steamboats to blockade the 
channel, and, taking the larger part of his arm)-, started 
for Corinth, leaving Generals Walker, Gantt and V. 
D. McCall to surrender with over seven thousand 
men. The Federals received, as the fruits of their 
victorv, one hundred and twenty-six siege guns, field 
artillery and heavy mortars, over ten thousand mus- 
kets, several steamboats, a floating battery, nearly five 
hundred horses and mules, and an immense quantity 
of. ammunition and military supplies of every descrip- 
tion. The Federal loss was only eight killed and 




1 84 



THE MEMORIAL IVAR BOOK. 



twenty-seven wounded. The loss sustained by the Confederates was six men killed and 
nineteen woundeil. 1 1 may be thought remarkable that after so much heavy ammunition 
had been expended, there should be so few casualities, but throwing ten and fifteen-inch 
bombs a distance of two or three miles is vastly different from using grape and canister 
at four hiuulred \ards range. What the Federals sought was not so much the killing 
and wouiulino of men, as compelling the surrender of the forts and the possession of 

the ri\er. 

Simultaneous with this movement, General Samuel R. Curtis had followed Sterling 
Price from Missouri into Arkansas. Going too rapid)), he struck Van Dorn, who by 




a skillful flank movement, compelled the Federals to change front. Sigcl joined Curtis, 
which increased the Federal force to nearly thirteen thousand men, with fiftv pieces of 
artiller}'. The Confederate General \'an Dorn had ovt-r twent\- thousand. A great 
deal of manoeuvering ensued, each commander seeking an advantageous position. 
\'an Dorn finally succeeded in outflanking Curtis, who was compelled to change front. 
On March 7, he was ready for battle, and threw down the gauntlet. General Carr's 
division was on Curtis' right, General Davis on the centre, while Generals Sigel and 
Ashboth held the left. Both Van Dorn and Curtis made an error in lengthening their lines, 
for they extended from Elkhorn Tavern to Sugar Creek, a distance of nearly four miles. 
Van Dorn had placed Price on his right, Mcintosh in the centre, and McCulloch on his 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



i8s 



left. Carr's division was forced back nearly a mile, 
when McCulloch swung round to join Price, who 
was moving on Sigel. The latter tried to inter- 
cept McCulloch by advancing part of a battery, 
supported by artillery, but the guns were seized, 
and Sigel found himself overwhelmed. General 
Davis wheeled to the left and Carr came up in 
time to add to his weight in the changing 
movement, and a most sanguinary struggle ensued. 
The debatable ground vvas held alternately several 
times by both armies, until finally Van Dorn's 





troops gave way, and fell back in great 
disorder. The desperate character of the 
fighting is shown by the fact that two 
out of the three Confederate Brigade- 
Generals — Mcintosh and McCulloch — were 
mortally wounded. The F"ederal loss was 



over thirteen hundred men, the Confederates 
losing sixteen hundred. 

This battle of Pea Ridge, as it is called, 
aided the Federals in their general movement 
on the Confederate defensive line, and while 
it was not of much importance, the bravery 
displayed by both the Federal and Confederate 
troops, lifted it into prominence at the time it 
occurred. The battle was also a lesson to the 
people of both sections, that the war would be 
of a desperate and sanguinary character, a fact 
neither side had yet realized. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



187 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE BATTLE OF SIIILOH CHURCH AND THE .SIEGE OF CORINTH. 

Grant having been placed in command of Western Tennessee, began preparations for 
opening a vigorous campaign. Wlien he was ordered by Halleck to ascend the Tennessee 
River and establish himself somewhere near Corinth, on the line of the Memphis and 
Charleston Railroad, Grant obeyed, but made a personal trip up the Cumberland River to 
see General Buell, who had asked him to do so. It is now admitted that Halleck secretly 
feared Grant's popularity, and as human nature is the same all the world over, there were 
not wanting men who sought to fan this jealousy. Owing to the non-delivery of Grant's 




letters, the passage of his troops up the Tennessee was not known at headquarters, but 
Grant's presence in Nashville was speedily reported. Halleck immediately telegraphed to 
Grant, asking why his orders were not obeyed regarding a report on the effective strength 
of his army, and directing him to turn over the command of the Tennessee movement to 
General C. F. Smith, and remain at Fort Henry. Stung by this treatment. Grant asked to 
be relieved, but as Halleck soon discovered that he had gone too far, he restored Grant to 
his active command. That was the turning point in the career of the man who was 
eventually to rise to the command of all of the armies of the United States in the held. 

General Sherman, having been ordered to join C. F. Smith, embarked his division of 
eight thousand men at Paducah. As he ascended the Tennessee, a Confederate fort at 
Pittsburg Landing opened fire on the Federal transports, and it was decided to capture the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



fort and the LandiiiL,', as a basis of operations. This was soon done, General Hurlbut 
takini,f possession of Pittsburg Landing, which is nine miles above Savannah, and stands on 
a high bluff, with Snake and Lick Creeks entering the Tcnnc-ssi'e on either side, some fiNe 
miles apart. Three miles back of the Landing stood an oKl log building, known as Shiloh 
Church. These dispositions had scarcely been made, when General Smilli fell ill, and was 
compelled to retire, his death occurring on \\m\ 2},. (^-aiil was at once directed to 
assinne the chief command. 

In his memoirs Grant writes very feelingly on the subject of his being disgraced at a 
time when he was doing his whole iluty, and in the full tide of success. Though writing 
after so many years, it is clear that the injustice rankled in his mind, for he says : — " I was 
surprised. This was the first intimation I had received that General Halleck had called 
for information as to the strength of my command. On the 6th he wrote to me again : 




' Your going to Nashville without authority, and when your presence with your troops was 
of the utmost importance, was a matter of very serious complaint at Washington, so much 
so that I was advised to arrest you on \our return.' This was the first I knew of his 
objecting to my going to Nashville. That place was not beyond the limits of my 
command, which, it had been expressly declared in orders, were ' not defined.' Nashville 
is west of the Cumberland River, and I had sent troops that had reported to me for duty 
to occupy the place. I turned over the command as directed, and then replied to General 
Halleck courteously, but asked to be relieved from further duty under him. 

" Later, I learned that General Halleck had been calling lustily for more troops, 
promising that he would do something important if he could only be sufficiently reinforced. 
McClellan asked him what force he then had. Halleck telegraphed me to supply the 
information, so far as my command was concerned, but I received none of his dispatches. 
At last Halleck reported to Washington that he had repeatedly ordered me to give the 
strength of my force, but could get nothing out of me ; that I had gone to Nashville, 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



beyond the limits of my command without his authority, and that my arm)- was more 
demoralized ])y victory than the army at Bull Run had been by defeat. General 
McClellan, on this information, ordered that I should be relieveil from duty, and that an 
investigation should be made into any charges against me. He even authorized my arrest. 
Thus, in less than two weeks after the victory at Donelson, the two leading generals in the 
army were in correspondence as to what disposition should be made of me, and in less than 
three weeks I was virtually in arrest and without a command. On the 13th of March, I 
was restored to command, and on the 17th, Halleck sent me a copy of an order from the 
War Department, which stated that accounts of my misbehavior had reached Washington, 
and directed him to investigate and report the facts. He forwarded also a copy of 
a detailed dispatch from himself to Washington entirely exonerating me ; but he did 
not inform me that it was his own reports that had created all the trouble. On the con- 




trary, he wrote to me ' Instead of relieving you, I wish you, as soon as your new army is 
in the held, to assume immediate commaml, antl lead it to new victories.' In consecjuence, 
I felt very grateful to him, and supposed it was his interposition that had set me right with 
the Government." 

Referring to this critical condition of affairs, Sherman makes the following comments 
in his own memoirs: "By the end of F"ebruary, 1S62, Major-General Halleck commanded 
all the armies in the valley of the Mississippi, from his headquarters in St. Louis. These 
were, the Army of the Ohio, Major-General Buell, in Kentuck)- ; tlie Army of the 
Tennessee, Major-General Grant, at P'orts Henry and Donelson; the Army of the 
Mississippi, Major-General Pope ; and that of General S. R. Curtis, in .Southwest Missouri. 
He posted his chief of staff. General Cullum, at Cairo, and me at Paducah, chietl)' to 
expedite and facilitate the important operations then in progress up the Tennessee and 
Cumberland Rivers. On the 21st, General Grant sent General Smith with his division to 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Clarksvillo, fifty miles above Donelson, toward Nashville, and on the 27th went himself to 
Nashville to meet and confer with General Bucll, but returned to Donelson the next 
dav. Meantime, General Halleck, at St. Louis, must have felt that his armies were getting 
away from him, and began to send dispatches to me at Paducah, to be forwarded by boat 
or by a rickety teleoraph line up to I'^ort Henr\-, whicli la\- entire!)- in a hostile country, and 
was consequently always out of repair." After quoting the dispatch relieving Grant, which 
passed through Sherman's hands over the " rickety telegraph line," the old hero say.s, ver\' 
quaintly : " Halleck was evidently working himself into a passion, but he was too far from 
the seat of war to make due allowance for thi; actual state of facts. General Grant had 
done so much, that Cu-neral Halleck 
should have been patient. Meantime, 
at Paducah, I was busy sending boats in 
every direction — some under the orders 
of General Halleck, others of General 
Cullum ; others for General Grant. 
and still others for General Buell 
at Nashville." 





On assuming command. Grant found 
no reason for changing the ciisposition 
of the Federal troops, even had he the 
time. Sherman was covering all the 
main roads leading to Pittsburg Land- 
ing, Init there were dangerous gaps in 
his line, so Lew Wallace was sent to 
MAjoK-oENERAL LOVK1.1. n. KoissEAi'. Cruuip's Laudiug, Hurlbut to the left 

of the Corinth road, McClernaiid and 
Prentiss being in the advance. Grant's entire force amounted to thirty-three thousand men, 
and as Buell, after repeated solicitations had received Halleck's permission to join Grant, the 
entire Army of the Ohio, forty thousand strong, was already marching from Nashville. 
Everything pointed to an important battle, for Beauregard was concentrating his troops at 
Corinth. Bragg came up from Pensacola, Polk from the Mississippi and Johnston brought 
his whole army from Murfreesboro, so that the Confederates had forty-five thousand men 
on the ground, with \'an Dorn and Price, who had been driven out of Arkansas by Curtis 
and Sigel, coming up with thirty thousand more. Albert Sidney Johnston, being senior in 
rank, assumed command of the Confederate arm\-, . nd there was a council of war, when it 
was decided not to wait for Price and \'an Dorn, but attack Grant before Buell could join 
him. On April 4, both Wallace and Sherman found Confederate forces on their front, but 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



191 



none of the Federal Generals had any definite idea how many men Johnston had under 
him. There was a heavy rain during the night of the 5th, but the sun rose bright and clear 
the following (Sunday) morning. Spring had now so advanced in that region, that the 
woods wore a soft mantle of green, while the perfumes of field and forest filled the balmy air. 
Nature was in her calmest, sweetest mood, yet armed men were marshalling for deadly combat 
amidst these signs of the approaching season for tillage and sowing. There was indeed 
some deadly sowing to be done among these overflowing creeks, but Death was to be the 
grim harvester. Beauregard, who had planned the Confederate movement, was so 
confident of success that when the conference ended he shook his scabbarded sword with 






-%, 



' : j:'-'"^. 







-f 






^'""Wi,,' ''"'^d''! '•'^}^** >.'-?"'-" ^ 






Battle of Shiloh uv i:,i Ohio under Genekal Lovell H, Ru 



one hand, as he pointed to the distant Federal camps with the other saying dramatically, 
" Gentlemen, we sleep in the enemy's camp to-morrow night." He got the camps but did 
not sleep. In the light of subsequent information there is but little doubt that had 
Beauregard been able to retain the chief command at the very beginning, the Battle of 
Shiloh would have had a different ending than the one history now gives it. The 
Confederate advance was extraordinarily swift and silent, for the soaked ground gave back 
no sound as the leading columns pushed through the woods. So sudden and unexpected 
was their descent that the Federal pickets were swept aside, and before Sherman knew 
what had happened Hardee was pounding him and Prentiss. Almost in an instant the 
battle had begun, there was no overture to the performance, for serious work was on hand 



TUr. MF.MORIAI. WAR BOOK. 



from start to tiiiish. ciraiu had gont' to Savannah to see Buell, who was expected, but 
when he lieartl the distant guns, Grant hastened back, reaching the field at eight o'clock. 
By that time the Confederates were moving round Sherman's rear, while Prentiss lost his 
cam|). Seeing his tlanger, Sherman swung rouml, ami taking new ground held it during the 
day, des|)ite all elVorts to dislodge him. Sherman's troops were raw in the experience of 
war, but he managed to hold them together in the face oi a most ilcatlly series of musketry 
volU'Vs, for the Confederates fought desperate!}. It was a scene i(u-a jjaiiiter. The sun 
shone hotly over fields and woods, the atmosphere was filled with dense volumes of smoke, 
which writhed and rolled under the constant concussion of thousands of muskets. The 
awful yell of the Southerners pierced the ear, while shot and shell crashed among the trees 
amid which Sherman's troops had sought temporary shelter. Still they held to their position, 




although ammunition was running short. "Can vou hold vour line?" wrote Grant to 
Sherman. "Ves, lean, if you will send me powder and ball cartridge, and be damned 
quick about it," replied the impetuous brigade commander. Grant took the hint, and as 
Sherman's men filled their pouches they gritted their teeth, and with blackened faces bit 
their cartridges and went to work in returning bullet for bullet. Then ensued a fierce 
musketry duel, the air was filled with whistling missiles, and the Confederate advance was 
checked. Sherman was twice wounded, in the hand and shoulder, and a third bullet 
passed through his hat. He also had several horses shot from under him during the day. 
Again and again did the Confederates charge, but Sherman's line could not be shaken. 
The Thirteenth and Fortieth Missouri especially distinguishing themselves. So the tide 
of battle ebbed and flowed, all of the other brigades finding it ditticult to withstand the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



193 




; ON Corinth, Gene 



repeated rushes of the Confederates, who fought Hke demons. Cannon and musket, shell 
and bullet, did its deadly work, and the soddened earth was carpeted by dead and dying 
men, with the bright sun shining in full refulgence over the ghastly and repulsive scene. 

Matters were now assuming a serious aspect for the Federals. By noon the 
Confederates had taken the ground occupied in the morning, and captured the camps of 
McClernand, Sherman, Prentiss and Stewart. In fact, three of the five Federal divisions 
had been completely routed, Hurlburt alone holding to his original position. General W. 
\\. L. Wallace was killed, and the rear was thronged Avith fugitives from the raw regiments 
which had never before seen a battle of any kind. It was 
a moment of terrible suspense for Grant, for he found 
himself driven into a corner on the bank of the river, without 
any signs of Lew Wallace's five thousand men, who hatl 
been ordered up from Crump's Landing, neither had he 
heard from Buell. But the idomitable character of the 
man carried him through the emergency, and he fought 
on, the idea of surrentlering never entering his mind. The 
success attained by the Confederates had, however, cost 
them dearly, for two of their Generals — Hindman and 
Gladdon — had been killetl, while Johnston had left the 
field with a wound which subsequently proved fatal. 

Beauregard, being now in command, decided to seize 
Pittsburg Landing, and all his energy was directed in that 
direction. But his men came to a deep ravine, at the mouth 
of which the gunboats Lexington and Tyler were posted, 
while on the opposite crest the Federals had hastily assembled 
twenty or thirty cannon. The Confederates bravely 




S. A. Hurlburt, 



194 



THE JfliMOKIAL WAR BOOK. 




plunged into the ravine, led by such officers as Pond, Stuart, 
Ruggles, Chalmers, Stevens, Cheatham and Withers. But 
the soft earth had been soaked Ijy the recent rains, and the 
men floundered in the deep mud. Colonel Webster, of 
Grant's staff, who had assembled the guns, then saw his 
opportunity, for he opened on the Confederate front with 
his hurriedly collected artillery, while the gunboats swept 
the ravine with eight-inch shells. Finding themselves in a 
trap, Beauregard's men here showed wonderful courage, 
for they charged the Federal batteries again and again, only 
to be cut down in broad swathes, for the Federal infantry 
was now rallying and delivering a deadly musketry fire. The 
scene at this point was a terrible one, the ground l)eing 
thickly covered with dead, dying and wounded men, while 
the smoke from cannon and musket concealed the combatants 
from each other. Finally Beauregard decided to pause, 
GENERAL BRAXTON niiAGG, c. 5. A. thinklug that hc could finish Grant on the following morning 

with the greatest ease. As the Confederates fell back. 
Lew Wallace joined Grant, he having taken the wrong road, and Buell's advance under 
General Nelson was also on the field. E.xhausted as were the Federals, these reinforce- 
ments gave them fresh hope and courage. 

The sufferings of his troops during the night after the first day's battle is described by 
Grant in the following language : — " During the night rain fell in torrents, and our troops 
were e.xposed to the storm without shelter. I made my headquarters under a tree, a few 
hundred yards back from the river bank. My ankle was so much swollen from the fall of 
my horse, the Friday night preceding, and the bruise was so painful, that I could get no 
rest. The drenching rain would have precluded the possibility of sleep without this 
additional cause. Sometime after midnight, growing restive under the storm and the 
continuous pain, I moved back to the log house under the bank. This had been taken 
as a hospital, and all night wounded men were being 
brought in, their wounds dressed, a leg or an arm 
amputated as the case might require, and everything 
being done to save life or alleviate suffering. The sight 
was more unendurable than encountering the enemy's 
fire, and I returned to my tree in the rain." 

During the night of April 6, twenty-seven thousand 
men were added to the strength of the Federal Arm)-. 
Grant had personally superintended the disposition of 
his several divisions, and as Buell had brought up his 
own divisions under Nelson, McCook and Crittenden, 
he was assigned to the left and centre of the new line of 
battle. It had been arranged that the fresh troops were 
to begin, and Wallace's artillery opened at dawn as the 
Confederate left was attacked and driven back. Nelson 
and Crittenden were likewise engaged on Grant's left, 
finding the enemy in very strong force, because Beaure- 
gard had retained his purpose of capturing Pittsburg 
Landing. The fighting now grew desperate, for the 
entire line had become engaged, the Federal artillery 
fire proving too much for the Confederates to stand 



I 




THE MEMORIAL WAR ROOK. 



195 



before. Hazen's brigade had charged upon and captured one of Beauregard's 
batteries, turning the guns against him, while McCook's division came up with 
Terrill's battery, and pounded the Confederate centre with ten-pound shells and twelve- 
pound canister. Then came the turning event of the day. Mention has been made of the 
little log church which has given this battle its Federal name — for the Confederates only 
recognize the engagement as that of Pittsburg Landing. It was at the church that the 
final effort was made. Sherman had joined Wallace, and both Generals pressed steadily 
forward until they at length reached the ridge Sherman had occupied on the previous 
morning. Beauregard, finding his path to the Landing so stubbornly disputed, counter- 
marched and formed in front of Grant's right, finding himself again out-generaled. The 
fierce tide of battle now surged to and fro, as Beauregard, heroically endeavored to carry out 
his original plans, while Grant as stubbornly held to his own. Round the church the 
carnaoe was dreadful. Little did those humble Methodists imagine when they built their 




A Wagon Tka 



log structure, that one day it would be the centre of a horrible battle, that its logs would be 
splintered by countless leaden bullets, and torn by solid shot, or exploding shell. They 
had used it for a place oi prayer ; these opposing armies now in deadl)- combat, held it as 
their common rallying point. The sound of song and praise to the Creator had given 
place to the roar of battle, the yells and cheers of advancing battalions, the agonized cries 
of shattered and wounded men, the deafening detonations of artiller\-, and the angry crash 
of musketry. Seldom has such a scene of carnage been enacted round the spot dedicated 
to divine worship. The church was taken and retaken a dozen times, each charge adding 
to the heap of dead or dying combatants. There was no opportunity for succoring those 
who had fallen, and many a Federal and Confederate soldier received a second and fatal 
wound, as he lay helpless on the bloody earth. The trees that surrounded the log church 
were riddled by leaden balls, and they, too, were added to the dead, for nearly all withered 
under the terrible force that tore them into splinters. The Demon of War swept over the 
gory field. With one despairing effort Beauregard gathered his force together and made a 



196 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



headloii"-, furious charge, but it was of no avail, the battle was ended, and the Confederates 
began retreating. The cost of this victory for the Federals was, indeed, a heavy one, as 
there were no less than seventeen hundred men killed, seven thousand, four hundred and 
ninety-five wounded, and three thousand and twenty-two taken prisoners, an aggregate of 
twelve thousand two hundred and seventeen. Buell lost over twenty-one hundred, Grant 
ten thousand and fifty. Beauregard's loss was ten thousand, si.\ hundred and ninety-nine. 
In writing'- about the battle in after years, Sherman says: — "Probably no single battle of 
the war >'ave rise to such wild and damaging reports. It was publicly asserted at the North 
that our army was taken completely by surprise ; that the rebels caught us in our tents ; 
bayoneted the men in their beds; that General Grant was drunk ; that Buell's opportune 
arrival saved the Army of the Tennessee from utter annihilation, etc. These reports 




^ 



■P!^^ 



were in a measure sustained by the published opinions of Generals Buell, Nelson and 
others, who had reached the steamboat landing from the east, just before nightfall of the 
6th, when there was a large crowd of frightened, stampeded men, who clamored and 
declared that our army was all destroyed and beaten." 

General Halleck rose to the sublimity of the occasion, and forgetting his pique at 
being compelled to remain at St. Louis while his subordinates were winning laurels in the 
field, he issued an order thanking Generals Grant and Buell, their officers and men, for 
the bravery and endurance shown on April 6, and the heroic manner in which they had, on 
the following day, defeated and routed the Confederate army. It may be mentioned here 
that Grant's detractors frequently brought the charge of drunkenness against him. One day 
it was repeated to President Lincoln, who quietly inquired of the speaker, if he knew what 
brand of whisky Grant was in the habit of drinking. Being answered in the negative, 
Lincoln e.Kpressed regret, saying it might be a good plan to serve the same brand to some 
of the other Federal Generals. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



197 



Beauregard retreated to Corinth in excellent order, under circumstances of great 
hardship. He had only one road, encumbered with wagons filled with wounded men, 
whose sufferings were increased by the heavy storms of wind and rain, hundreds dying en 
route. Being situated at the junction of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and the 
Mobile and Ohio line, Beauregard decided that he must make a stand at Corinth, so 
began fortifying. In the meantime Brigadier-General Mitchell, acting under orders issued 
by Buell before he started to join Grant, had cut the Memphis and Charleston road at 
Huntsville, capturing an immense quantity of rolling stock. He also seized Decatur and 
Tuscumbia, thereby opening up another hundred miles of the Tennessee River, for which 
gallant service Congress rewarded him with a commission of Major-General. Sherman had 
also destroyed the railroad bridge at Bear Creek. These operations rendered Corinth of 
no value in a strategic sense, but Beauregard clung to it. 

Halleck now made up his mind to have some share of the glory Grant was reaping, 




so proceeded to Pittsburg Landing, arriving there April 1 2, when he assumed personal 
command of what was then called " The Grand Army of the Tennessee." Scarcely had 
Halleck appeared, than Grant had found himself nominally second in command, but in reality 
having no authority, or any real duty to perform. But Halleck, in St. Louis, calmly 
criticising battles as he sat in his of^ce chair, and Halleck in the field, were two different 
persons. It should be remembered that this really talented man had no practical 
experience in the art of war. He had been a military professor, and a successful one, but, 
while he could detect mistakes when viewing a campaign at a distance, he was unable to 
grasp its salient points nearer at hand. Deciding to move on Corinth, Halleck proceeded 
so cautiously that the Confederates were able to gather up sixty-five thousand men. 
That the approaching engagement would be a heavy one was considered e\ident, as 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Halleck had Ijroug-ht up Pope and some of Curtis' troops, his total strength lieing over 
one hundred thousand men. The h'ederal ami)- was organized in three grand chvisions, 
the old army that had fought so nobly under Grant, forming tlu' right wing, under 
command of General George H. Thomas ; the Arm\- of the ( >hio, under Buell, being the 
centre, while Pope's Arm\- of the Mississip|)i occupied the left. Ciranl had a general 
supervision of the right wing. 

Nine days after taking eommand, 1 lalleck began his movement, but it was not until 
May 3 that Sherman, who had the advance, reached within six miU^s of Beauregard's 
advanced posts. Considerable fighting ensued, and on May 2S the Federals were only 
thirteen hundred )ards from the Confederate breastworks, when heavy siege guns were 
placed in position and reconnaissances made on either tlank. The following day, Pope and 




Sherman pushed forward more guns. Halleck now awaited results with calm confidence. 
He hoped for battle, and expected victor)-, and the capture of the greater part of 
Beauregard s army. Early the following morning, as the Federal skirmishers were seeking 
Confederate heads to shoot at, there was an awful and tremendous explosion, for 
Beauregard had departed, bag and baggage, during the night, leaving a few men to destroy 
the enormous quantity of ammunition he was compelled to leave behind. Thus ended the 
brief siege of Corinth, and Halleck reaped but a barren victor)-. It was now liis turn to be 
criticised, and Halleck did not at all relish the expt'rience. Few men do. Brave I^eauregard 
also fell into trouble, for Jefferson Davis was wild witli rage when heretiretl for a brief rest, 
and ordered Bragg to take permanent command, saving that Beauregard wouUl never l:)e 
trusted again. Some ditTerence between Bull Run and Corinth. At thi' one Beauregard 
was a hero, the other brought him temporary disgrace. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



199 




CHAPTER XVI. 



3URN.SIDE S EXPEDITION TO ROANOKE ISLAND. 



Following the leading events in the mighty struggle occurring lietween the National 
Government and the Revolted States, in their natural sequence, we now leave Halleck amid 
the smoking ruins of Corinth, and pass to the seacoast, where an important expedition is 
in progress. By this method the reader will gain a better conception of the relative 
importance of the various movements, as well as a clearer idea of their tremendous power 
and scope. 

The success of the Hatteras and Port Royal expeditions led the Government to form 
a third, under command of General Ambrose E. Burnside. Its objective point was the 
coast of North Carolina, and it was organized at Annapolis, in December, iS6i and 
January 1862. The military force comprised sixteen regiments of infantry, one battery of 
field artillery, and a large number of artillerists, who were to mount and serve the siege 
guns that had been provided. This force of sixteen thousand men, was divided into 
three brigades, under Generals John G. Parke, Jesse L. Reno, and John G. Foster. When 
the fleet assembled in Hampton Roads, there were over one hundred vessels, steam and 
sail, divided in two columns, under the respective charge of Commanders Stephen H. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Rowan and Samuel G. Hazard, the chief naval command falling to Commodore Louis M. 
Goldsborough. The linal departure of the expedition took place on the morning of 
Sunday, January ii, and it made the same imposing and picturesque appearance as did its 
predecessors. No difficulty was experienced in the movement until the ileet reached Cape 
Hatteras, when another terrible storm struck it with resistless fury, the consequence being 
that a gunboat, a floating battery and four transports were lost. Among these was the 
steamer City of New York, carrying fifteen hundred muskets, four hundred barrels of 
gunpowder, and other valuable ordnance supplies, but no lives were lost. 

On Wednesday, January 14, Colonel J. W. Allen and Surgeon F. S. Waller, of the 
Ninth New Jerse>-, went ashore with a small reconnoitering party. On their return, the 
boat was capsized by the surf, and both officers w'ere drowned. So boisterous did the 




weather continue, that the scattered fleet did not assemble in the peaceful waters of Pamlico 
Sound until February 7. The delay, though unavoidable, gave the Confederates ample 
time to discover the object of the expedition, and prepare for meeting it. Roanoke Island 
lies between Pamlico and Albermarle Sounds, and i)eing exceedingly well fortified and 
garrisoned, was considered an effectual guard o\er the rear approaches to Portsmouth and 
Norfolk, Va. The garrison was at that time commanded by Colonel H. M. Shaw, of the 
Eighth North Carolina, owing to the illness of Brigadier-General Henry A. Wise. Besides 
the batteries, which commanded Pamlico and Croatan Sounds, there were some important 
fortifications on the mainland, covering the principal channels, while the water was filled 
with sunken vessels and other obstructions. To the defensive forces were added eight 
small gunboats, carrying eleven guns, and commanded by Lieutenant Lynch. 

Heavy and threatening clouds obscured the sun on the morning of February 7, as 
Goldsborough's gunboats advanced up Croatan Sound, but at ten o'clock the clouds 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



201 



disappeared and bright, warm sunshine illumined the placid waters. Then Goldsborouoh 
hoisted his signal, '.' This day our country expects every man to do his duty," aparaphale 
of Nelson's famous annoucement to his fleet in Trafalgar Bay. At eleven o'clock the 
Federal gunboats opened on Fort Barton, at Pork Point, and in less than thirty minutes 
the engagement became general, the Confederate gunboats joining in the issue But the 




latter were soon driven beyond range, one receiving such punishment that it began to sink, 
and had to be beached. Fort Barton was so terribly pounded that the bafracks were 
set on fire, and the entire work was shattered. General Burnsidethen be-an disembarking 
his troops on Roanoke Islantl, two miles from Fort Barton, finding a strong Confederate 
force concealed in the woods near by. The Federals were shelled by Lieutenant Lynch's 
flotilla, but Goldsborough's gunboats again drove him away, and also shelled the 
Confederate infantry position, so that by midnight nearly eight thousand Federals had 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



203 



safely landed. But the movement was a 
fatiguing- and perilous one, for the boats could 
not get within a quarter of a mile of the dry 
land, and the men had to wade ashore, frequently 
meeting small channels that were waist deep. 
The night grew cold, and a heavy rain storm 
added to the discomforts of the troops. 

At daylight, the shivering columns were 
formed and began the advance. hOster's, 
brigade led, followed by those of Reno and 
Parke. The Confederate fire was drawn at 
eight o'clock, their position being admirably 
chosen, for there was a morass on either flank 
leaving only a narrow strip of solid ground 
for the attack. Midshipman B. F. Porter 
accompanied Foster, with half a dozen l)oat 
howitzers, and he immediately opened fire. 
The Federal advance was necessarily slow and 
cautious, but the fighting was severe, as the 
Confederates held their position with charac- 
teristic stubbornness. For over two hours the 
battle raged fiercely, and Foster discovered 
that his men were rimnine out of amniunition 








THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




finall)- meeting- a tlag of truce 
asking for terms. "Unconditional 
surrender," was the reply, and 
two thousanil men were made 
prisoners, including their com- 
manding officer, Colonel Shaw. 

Meanwhile General Reno 
had ad\anced towanl Weir's 
Point, capturing Colonel Jordan 
and eight hundred men, and 
Colonel Hawkins seized the 
Shallowbag Ba)' battery and two 
hundred more men. Goldsbor- 
ough's gunboats had in the interim 
been pounding Fort Barton, and 
when General Foster reached it, 
he found the place entirely empty, 
so hoisted the Stars and Stripes 
as a signal for the w^ar vessels commolork r>.w\n 

to cease firing. The damaged 

Confederate's gunboat, Curlew, was then blown up by 
her commander, the remainder of the flotilla retiring 
into Albemarle Sound. General Burnside found, on 
taking up his headquarters in Fort Barton, that he 
had possession of six forts, forty heavy siege guns, 
over three thousand stand of small arms and some thirt) - 
three hundred prisoners. His loss was fifty killed, 




.-^#^ 



so he decided to use 
the bayonet. Major 
E. H. Kimball offered 
to lead the charge 
with part of Hawkins' 
Zouaves, and was told 
to go ahead. " Zou- 
aves!" cried Kimball, 
" we are going to take 
that battery of guns ; 
come along, boys." 
The men of the Ninth 
answered the Major 
with a cheer, and a 
away they dashed, 
closely followed b)" 
the Twenty-first Mas- 
sachusetts and Fifty- 
first New York. So 
sudden and headlong 
was the charge that 
the Confederates had 
only time to fire one 
gun before abandon- 
ing the liattery and 
retreating. The vic- 
tors hoisted their reg- 
imental colors on the 
breastworks antl then 
started in pursuit, 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



205 



among them Colonel Charles S. Russell and Lieutenant-Colonel Vigeur de Monteuil, and 
two hundred and twenty-two wounded. With rare generosity Burnside gave all the credit 
in his dispatches to his brigade commanders. It was on Roanoke Island that Sir Walter 
Raleigh located his first American colony, in 1585. It therefore was historic ground. 

Burnside's success only urged him on, his efforts being warmly supported by 
Goldsborough. It should be remembered that Elizabeth City, North Carolina, stands about 
thirty miles from the mouth of the Pasquotank River, which empties into Albemarle Sound. 
The city has also water communication with Norfolk, Virginia, via. the Dismal Swamp Canal. 
The Confederate gunboats having gone up the Pasquotank River, Commander Rowan 
started after them with fourteen vessels, and on February 10 found the object of his 
search. The fight lasted onlv fortv minutes, the Confederate's eunboats were run ashore. 




»/» 







the land batteries were silenced and the city fell into the hands of the Federals, who saved 
it from destruction by fire. A remarkable instance of personal bravery was shown during 
this brief engagement. One of the Confederate shells struck the gunboat Valley City, and 
set fire to the vessel. One of the gunners, John Davis, then deliberately sat upon and 
covered an open barrel of gunpowder, he had been using, thus protecting the inflammable 
material until the flames had been extinguished. For this act Davis was promoted, and 
Congress gave him a medal of honor. Similar smaller Federal successes followed all along 
the coast, and Burnsitle began operations against New Berne, Goldsborough returning 
to Hampton Roads, leaving Rowan, now a Commodore, in command of the naval force 
co-operating with Burnside. 



Till-. ME^rORIAI. WAR BOOK. 



New Henic is a town that had a population of six tliousand, and access to its harbor 
is o-ained throuijh Peracoke Inlet. On March ii, Burnside embarked fiftcLn thousand 
meii from Roanoke Island, and started for the Neuse River. On the mornin^r of the 13th 
the troops landed under cover of Rowan's saucy gunboats, and, marching forAvard a 
distance of twelve miles, bivouacked for the night within two miles of the Confederate 
lines. Bjrnside's men were enthusiastic, desiMte the difficulties they encountered, for 
heav)- rain had fallen during the day, which maile the roads next to impassable. In fact 
all movements of large bodies of troops is attended by rain, which they produce by filling 
the air with cannon and musket concussions ; every important battle during the war being 
followed b\- drenching rains. So execrable, indeed, were the roads that the men had to 



I 




nxTn.K OF Roanoke Inland. Fe 



harness themselves to the artillerj- pieces with long ropes, and drag the guns forwanl by 
sheer strength, a feat the battery horses were unable to perform. 

Striking the enemy's pickets early in the morning of the 14th. Burnside moved forwartl. 
The battle lasted for four hours and was quite severe, until finally Colonel Clarke, with his 
Twenty-first Massachusetts, charged and took the entrenchments. But the Confederates 
being reinforced-, an awful hand-to-hand combat ensued, the Federals finally routing their 
antagonists, the Fifth Rhode Island, and the Eighth and Eleventh Connecticut, also 
distinguishing themselves. This ended the fight, Colom-l Hartranft's Fifty-First 
Pennsylvania making a similar charge upon another battery, the Confederates retreated, 
leaving cannon, caissons, and horses behind them. On entering the town General Foster 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



207 




The Ten Inch Muktak Hattekv it; Ac 



was appointed Military Governor, while General Parke was sent to reduce Fort Macon, 
which defended the harbor of Beaufort, then used as a basis of operations for the blockade 
running steamships so abundantly supplied from English ports. Parke invested Fort 
Macon, which was commanded by Colonel Moses T. White, a nephew of Jefterson Davis, 
and General Burnside met the Confederate commander on April 24, under flag of truce. 
White declined to surrender, and the bombardment began the next morning. Both sides 
served their guns with obstinacy and precision, but, at four in the afternoon, a white flag 




Captain Morris' Batterv Firing un Fort iMa 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



209 




'♦'*. _ '^^??=^ 






-J t..Uiir 




Sl HKENDER UK FoRT M ACON ."Lo W E KIN G THE CONFEDERATE Fl 



was hoisted over the fort and the Federals marched in. General Reno had also been as 
successful at South Mills, and Burnside's work was ended. Leaving General Foster in 
command of the department, " Rhody " sailed for Fortress Monroe, in July, with a part of 
his force, to join McClellan, who was then sadly in need of reinforcements. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



This expedition had placed the Federals in possession of a considerable portion of the 
North Carolina coast, and drew the lines of the blockade still closer. It caused the 
Government to consider Burnside to be a really great commander, though he himself was 
aware he could not successfully handle more than a corps of nine or ten brigades. 
His subsequent career will be narrated hereafter. General Hurnside was an imi)osing 
fiirure on a horse. His remarkable moustaches and whiskers, with the folded Burnside hat 
on his head, made him easy recognizable. He always wore full dress, even on the march, 
while a hu^e pair of snow-white gauntlets lent additional magnificence to his costume. 
As a rider, Burnside was easy and graceful, and he seemed to love being in the saddle. 
To see him as I did in 1864, at the head of the Ninth Corps, while on the march from 
Ale.\andria to the Rapidan River, was a remminiscence not to be forgotten, even after the 




lapse of thirty years. The Ninth had come up to join the Army of the Potomac, in 
anticipation of Grant's overland campaign against Lee, and though the famous corps had 
been on the march since daylight, Burnside looked as clean at noon as if he had just 
stepped out of a bandbox. His sword hung gracefully, his broad orange sash was as 
carefully wrapped around his capacious waist as though he was on the line of review. There 
was a pleasant smile on his lips as he bowed to the men of the Fifth Corps. His own 
troops loved him, and though the Army of the Potomac had good reason to remember his 
disastrous campaign across the Rappahannock River, it respected him because he was a 
brave and irallant man. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




CHAPTER X\'II. 



CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS KY FARRAGUT AND BUTLER. 



When General Benjamin F. Butler returned from his Hatteras Inlet expedition, and 
reported to President Lincoln, the latter shook the General's hand saying : " You have a 
right to go home now, General, for a little rest; but study out another job for yourself." 
Fhese few characteristic words were the foundation for the expedition of New Orleans. 
Butler went home to Boston, and traveled through the New England .States for the 
purpose of pushing enlistments and the raising of new regiments, after which he was ordered 
to organize the military part of the New Orleans expedition. Then there was difficulty in 
getting off, because of the threatened war with England over the capture of Mason and 
Slidell, the Confederate commissioners to England and France, they having been taken 
from the English steamer Trent, by Capt. C. Wilkes, of the U. S. Frigate San Jacinto, 
on the high seas. The diplomacy of Secretary Seward in releasing the commissioners 
averted the difficulty, and established the precedent that no nation has a right to invade the 
deck of a vessel belonging to a friendly power. 

On February 24, Butler took leave of the President. " Good bye, Mr. President," he 
said, " we shall take New Orleans, or you will never see me again." "The man that takes 
New Orleans is made a Lieutenant-General," said the Secretary of War. But New Orleans 
was taken by the nav}-, not the army, and the commander of the naval part of the expedi- 
tion was raised to the rank of X'ice-Admiral, equivalent to Lieutenant-General in the Army. 

On February 25, 1862, Butler embarked his troops at Fortress Monroe, Commodore 
David G. Farragut, a veteran of the War 1812, and the Mexican War, having sailed 
February 2, to assume command of the Western Gulf Squadron. The acknowledged 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOR 



objective point of the expedition was Ship Island, while it was hinted that Mobile would 
possilily be attacked. It is scarcely necessary here to call the reader's attention to the fact 
that the aim of the Federal Government was to finally take possession of all the Southern 
seaports and harbors, while its armies were to reduce the Northern and Western limits of the 
Confederate territory, the naval forces organized in the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers 
assisting. When this was finally accomplished the war naturally ended. Butler found 
Farragut at Ship Island, and preparations for ascending the Mississippi River were begun, 
but there were so many delays that it was not until April that the expedition reached the 
lower Passes. On April 8, the Federal war fleet, consisting of six sloops, seventeen gunboats 




and twentj'-one mortar schooners, entered the .Southwest Pass. General Butler remaining 
below, with his troops on transports. 

The task set Farragut was an extremely hazardous one. He had to pass between 
Fort St. Philip and Fort Jackson, on the north and south banks of the river, round a broad 
bend, thirty miles above the Pass. These two forts had been armed with no less than one 
hundred and twenty-six guns of the heaviest calibre and largest range then known in 
warfare. In addition to these, there was a huge chain stretched across the river on eight 
hulks, an obstruction somewhat similar to that used in the Hudson River during the 
Revolution. The Confederates also had the Louisiana, a powerful ironclad battery, the 
steam ram Manassas, and thirteen gunboats, lying above the chain, with several fire ships 
and rafts in readiness below. Other fortifications extended along the course of the river, 
and the effective land force defending New Orleans and its approaches was about twenty 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



213 



^^0^$i0mi^^s^iMi'^-'^^-i 




.^^^ 




?I4 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



thousand men. It is rather a curious fact that the 

chief military command was held by General Mansfield 

Lovell, who had resi^netl his |)()siti()n in the New 

^^^^ York City Government to join the Confcdrrar)-, while 

^^C^V^ the river defences were in cliar^e of General j. K. 

^P^ ^^H Duncan, another New \'ork cit\- office holder. On 

^W ^^ *lv April i8, Farragut moved up the river, meeting a 

Confederate fire raft, which did no damage. It had 

been arranged that Captain David Porter was to 

creep up to the bend below the forts, with his mortar 

I)oats, and bombard. If this failed in reducing the 

forts, Farragut intended to run the gauntlet with 

his gunboats and sloops, and if he succeeded, Butler 

was to land in the rear of Fort St. Philip and carry 

it by assault. 

Porter's bombardment was of the most terrific 
character. A mortar throws its missile high into the 
air, which then descends with tremendous force, the 
LAiTAiN M .. I" M<i inK u.HKu L.iAKiKs w E. ^^'^'^^ ^^ ^^^ artlllerists cuabling them to so nicely 

calculate the line of flight, by elevating or depressing 
the mouth of their mortar, that shells can be placed anywhere within a radius of fifty yards- 
Scarcely had the mortars opened, when the barracks in Fort Jackson were set on fire and 
the guns were frequently silenced, the Confederate gunners being unable to serve their 
pieces in the presence of the bursting missiles. Then the fuses were not cut to give them 
full time to e\i)lode, and, aseach of the twentv-incli globular masses fell inside the fort, thev 





Seizure of Messrs. Mason 



Captain Wilkes, of thk C. S Steasi 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



2ib 




penetrated the earth to the distance of several feet, and then exploding, threw the earth in all 
directions, creating havoc among the interior defences. During the first twenty-four hours. 
Porter's gunners flung no less than fifteen hundred bombs in and around the fort, the 
Confederates replying with equal energy. For six days and nights, or nearly one hundred 
and fifty hours, this awful iron rain continued. By daylight heavy banks of sulphurous 

smoke rolled down the 

Mississippi, and filled the 

dense woods sheltering 

the mortar boats. At 

night, the air was filled 

with fiery meteors, as the 

fuse lighted shells rose 

and fell. The roar of the 

contending artillery was 

deafening, being distinctly 

heard in the City of New 

( )rleans. Trees were shat- 
tered, or torn up by the 

roots, great gaps were 

made in the fort, and the 

repeated detonations 

caused concussions that 

smashed windows thirty 

miles awa}', and killed 

millions of fish which 





?i6 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




The U. S. Fleet Passing 



lloated on the surface of the river as they followed the current. But despite this 
tremendous exchange of bursting iron, Fort Jackson was not reduced. The fact 
is, sieo-e work is not so destructive of human life as are pitched battles, where the 
more deadly bullet comes in play. Once the troops become accustomed to huge shells and 




Passage of the =b Division or the Fedekai. S.jladron iast Forts Jackson and St. Ph.li.', .\p».i. -m, .S62 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



217 





round shot falling in their midst, and have learned the use of the traverses or earthwork 
divisions which enable them to avoid the exploding fragments, they can cling to their works 
for almost an indefinite period. This was shown at Sebastopol during the Crimean War, 
and at Petersburg, where Lee stood Grant's pounding for over nine months. Farragut 
therefore decided to run the guantlet on the third night of the bombardment. 
Commander Bell with five gunboats, ran up to the boom about nine o'clock of the night of 
April 20, but the attempt to blow up one of the hulks failed, and revealed his presence. 




2l8 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Fort Jackson opened a fierce fire on the Itaska, which had been lashed to a hulk, but her 
men worked away with saws, cold chisels and sledges until they had cut the chain. 1 he 
Confederates then sent down more fire rafts, and the bombardment continued until twentx'- 




Destroy the Fedrral Fl 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



219 




Gunboat " Go 



six thousand shells had been expended on the Federal side, about one million and a half 
pounds of metal, equal to two hundred and fifty thousand six pound solid shot. 

Just before daylight of April 24, the fleet weighed anchor and steamed up the 
river, safely passing through the broken chain, as the young moon was revealed 
above the tree tops. Then both forts opened furiously, as did a low water battery, 
the Federal gunboats making a vigorous response. The fog that had rested on 
the muddy waters of the Mississippi River now lifted, and the combat grew 
in its intensity. Porter's mortars pounded away, the forts and the fleet exchanged 





Tin: MEMORIAL WAR ROOK. 




broadsides, and as these titanic 
forces struggled for the mastery, 
it seemed as if pandemonium 
reigned on earth. Farragut's 
sliips finally got within half a 
mile of Port Jackson, and poured 
in such rapid discharges of grape 
and canister that the Confeder- 
ate gunners were swept from 
their barbette batteries. Then 
the Brooklyn became entangled 
in the chain, and the iron ram, 
Manassas, attempted to sink the 
k'ederal by firing a massive steel 
bolt from her huge bow gun, and 
I)y ramming. But the Brooklyn 
was protected by chain armor, and 
escaped. The Manassas ne.xt 
proceeded to push a fire raft 
against Farragut's flagship, the Hartford, which had run aground. The Hartford caught fire, 
but while one part of the crew extinguished the flames, the other section continued to work 
their guns. Finally the ship floated off, and the gallant Farragut found that his formidable 
and heroic task had been accomplished, for he had at last cleared the way to New Orleans. 
Commodore Bailey, with the second division, had quite as hard an experience. At 
one time he was in great peril, owing to the fact that his vessel, the Ca\uga, had the 
greatest speed, which carried her ahead of her consorts. Down came the Louisiana and 




The Federal Fleet Before New Orleans 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Manassas to crush Bailey, 

accompanied by ten or 

twelve gunboats. The 

speed of the Cayuga, how- 
ever, saved her, for it enabled 

Bailey to avoid the heavy 

ironclads, while he compelled 
three of the gunboats to 
surrender. Finding that his 
vessel had been struck by 
forty-two shells, and was 
partially disabled, Bailey re- 
tired from the fight, and 
pushed on up the river_ 

leaving Captain BoggS with last u«oads,de op t„e "vAKt-NA." commandkk bogos .,res three bkoapstes bepohh she s,n-ks. 

the Varuna to engage the 

Confederate fleet. Boggs dashed forward, and used his guns so rapidly, with solid shot 
and grape, that he sank six of his antagonists. Then the ironclads used their rams and 
heavy guns, sending eight-inch shells through her unarmored stern, and the Varuna sank 
fifteen minutes later, her hull and rigging being in flames. General Butler, in his book, 
alludes to the advance of the Federal gunboats as a most gallant and inspiring one.' 
Among other things, he says: "The moment Farragut's guns opened fire, the smoke 
settling down made it impossible to see anything one hundred yards away, except the 
bright flashes, or hear anything save the continuous roar of cannon of the heaviest 

calibre. It is vain to attempt to 
give a description of the appalling 
scene. The best one I ever heard 
was given by my staff-ofificer. Major 
Bell, in answer to a lady, who 
asked him to describe it. He said : 
' Imagine all the earthquakes in the 
world, and all the thunder and 
lightning storms together, in a 
space of two miles, all going off at 
once ; that would be like it, madam.' " 
Captain Boggs did not attempt 
to save his crew until the water rose 
to the trucks of the guns, but as 
the Varuna was tied to the trees 
on the river bank, he experienced 
no difficulty in getting all hands on 
shore, including his wounded. This 
extraordinary river battle only 
occupied ninetj- minutes of tmie, 
but in this comparatively brief 
l)eriod, the formidable forts had 
been successfully passed, and the 
Confederate Navy either destroyed 
or captured. Captam Porter de. 
scribes the fate of the great ironclad, 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Manassas, in the following t^raphic 
lan^uao-e : " It was reported to me 
that the celebrated ram. Manassas, 
was coming out to attack us, and sure 
enough, there she was, apparently 
steaming along shore, ready to pounce 
upon the defenceless mortar vessels ; 
hut I soon discovered that she could 
harm no one again. She was begin- 
ning to emit smoke from her port- 
holes ; she was on fire and sinking. 
Her pipes were twisted and riddled 
with shot ; her hull was cut up. She 
had evidently been used ui^ liy the 
squadron as she passed along. I tried 
to save her, as a curiosity, by getting 
a hawser around her and securing her 
to the bank ; but just after doing so, 
she faintly exploded. Her only gun went off, and, emitting flames from. 1-- ^--P-^' 
like some hu J animal, she gave a plunge and disappeared under the water. After the 
Manassas had gone down, there came a steamer on fire ; after her two others, burnmg 
and floating down the stream. Fires seemed to be raging all along up the nver, and we 
supposed that our squadron was burning and destroying the vessels as they passed along^ 
The sicdU of this nieht attack was awfully grand. The nver was ht up by rafts filled with 
pine knots; and the ships seemed to be literally fighting among flames and smoke. 

As Captain Bailey sailed out of the smoke, he passed Farragut, and discovered the 
camp of the Chalmette regiment, which surrendered after receiving a shower of grape and 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



223 




224 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



canister. The Federal war ships that remained 
serviceable, now " took order," and proceeded up 
the Mississippi. As these nine ounboats approached 
the City of New Orleans, I'^arrai^ut was surprised 
to meet steamers and llal boats adrift on the 
current, loaded witli b.ilcs of cotton and all ablaze. 
Rounding the last bcml of the river, the future 
Admiral found the entire le\ce one mass of llames, 
the Confederate troops haxini^- ruthlessly, but very 
naturally, ajjplied the torch to all the remaining' 
shipping. General l.oxell had retired with his men, 
leaving the munici])al aiuhorities to settle their 
terms of surrender. I'arragut took possession of the 
cii\- during the afternoon of April 26, and General 
Hutler arrixeil on Ma)- 1, when he assumed the 
militar\- command. Troops having landed in rear of 
I'Ort .St. I'liillip, and intelligence reaching the garri- 
sons that New Orleans had fallen, both the forts 
were surrendered. The commander of the ironclad 
batter\-, the Louisiana, set fire to his vessel after 
down stream, finally blowing u]) opposite the forts. 
Lower Mississippi River was opened to Federal 
possession and control. To I'arragut is due the entire credit, as was shown by 
the action of Congress, which created the rank of Admiral, and bestowed it 
u|)on him. 




loading every gun, and it lloated 
This ended hostilities anel the 




.\n English Armstrong Gu 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



225 




CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE BATTLES OF HANuVER COURT HOUSE AND FAIR OAKS. 

The engagement at Williamsburg, in Virginia, ending by Joe Johnston hastily falling 
back to his line of fortifications, beyond the Chickahominy River, McClellan established 
his new base of supplies at .West Point, on the York River, the greater part of his reserve 
divisions passing up from Yorktown on 
transports. By May 15, the advance 
columns of the army reached White 
House, which marks the head of navi- 
gation on the tortuous stream known 
as the Pamunkey River, and three days 
after McClellan announced in a despatch 
to the President, tliat his headquarters 
were within nine miles of the City of 
Richmond. So far the Federal move- 
ment had every promise of ultimate 
success, despite its slowness, but McClel- 
lan was never certain that he had enough 
men, and invariably exaggerated the 
strength of his opponent. Consequent])-, 
no sooner did the Federal pickets get 
within sight of the church steeples of 
Richmond, than he asked for General 
McDowell's corps of forty thousand 
men. His request was so far granted 




■-Stvii-^ 





226 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 










that McDowell proceeded down the Potomac to Acquia Creek, and marched to Freder- 
icksburg, with the intention of juininL^- McClellan's right. Hut Stonewall Jackson repeated 
his experiment of Bull Run, and made a rapid advance on Banks, who was occu})) ing the 

Shenadoah and \'irginia Valleys, a 
movement that so thoroughly alarmed 
the Washington authorities that they 
hastily recalled McDowell, though his 
cavalry videttes were in touch and com- 
munication with those of McClellan's 
command. 

It is only just to the latter to say 
that this timidity at Washington de- 
stroyed what must be admitted was an 
excellent plan of operations, for with 
McDowell's fresh troops and a deter- 
mined forward push by Banks, the 
Confederates would have been compelled 
to concentrate around Richmond. But 
Banks was ordered to fall back, and 
McDowell returned to Alixantlria, leav- 
ing Stonewall Jackson to wheel and 
strike McClellan's right llank and tlouble 
it up. For the purpose of opening a 
path for McDowell the Fifth Corps, 




VHITK HOt'SK. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



227 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



225 




under Fitz John Porter, 
was sent to Hanover Court 
House. Starting on May 
27, by way of Mechanics- 
ville, General William H. 
Emory lead Porter's ad- 
vance with two regiments 
of regular cavalry and 
Bonson's light battery, the 
main column consisting of 
Pnitterfield's, INIcOuade's, 
Warren's and Martindale's 
brigades, with three field 
batteries, under Captain 
Griffin, closely following. 
As usual, no sooner had 
Porter fairly started, than 
a heavy fall of rain drench- 

, , . , . BRIDGE ACROSS CHILKAHOMIN Y KIVEH, BUILT BY I5TH NEW VUKK t.M.ir. KliK&. 

ed the roads, making pro- 
gress slow and difficult. It used to be a proverb in the old Army of the Potomac, that it 
had not only invaded the .State of Virginia several times, but had actually waded through 
it. An old Confederate officer once remarked to the writer that he " did think Virginia 
was the muddiest State in the whole Union, at least Lee's Army had found it to be so." 

The Confederate pickets were uncovered at McKinsey's Cross Roads, six miles from 
Hanover Court House, but they retired, and Emory did not halt until he was near the 
Court House. Then Butterfieid advanced in good style, the Seventeenth New York 
capturing a field piece during the charge. Martindale meanwhile had pushed on as far as 
Peake's Station, on the Virginia Central Railroad, and after driving the Confederate 
force from his front, in the direction of Ashland, he turned towards the Court House. Then 
he met a fresh body of Confederate troops, which was sufficiently strong to break his 
centre and imperil his flanks. Porter, however, soon got his brigades together and a 

general engagement followed, ending in 
the capture of the Confederate camp, 
seven hundred prisoners and a consider- 
able quantity of small arms and supplies. 
The Federal loss was fifty-three killed, 
and three hundred and twenty-six 
wounded and missing. Having destroy- 
ed the track and the bridges on the 
Virginia Central Railroad, Porter with- 
drew, it being then known that McDow- 
ell was not coming up. 

McClellan's army was now straddling 
the Chickahominy River, his line being 
broken by White Oak Swamp. General 
Casey held the left at Fair Oaks Station, 
on the York River Railroad, while the 
right lay beyond Savage Station under 
Porter. On the night of May 30, a 
heavy rain storm deluged the swamps 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




\\\ ])cirtial check, until General N 
One Hundredth New York, the F 
and the Eleventh Maine. Gen- 
erals W'essel and Palmer were 
on the left and centre. Keyes' 
corps was at Seven Pines, while 
Heintzelman's covered White 
Oak Swamp. 

The Confederates now (gath- 
ered strength, Longstreet's corps 
coming up, and they attacked 
Keyes, the movement putting 
Casey's artillery in danger, so 
Naglee charged in good style, 
but he was met by a tremendous 
musketry volley which shattered 
the line. A counter charge was 
then made by Rains, and as the 
Federal batteries had exhausted 
their ammunition, Casey was 
compelled to retire to the second 
line, occupied by Couch. Captain 



and the net works of creeks 
which form the Chickahom- 
iny. The river soon over- 
tlowed, many of the bridges, 
were washed away including 
the pontoon structures 
thrown across by the Fed- 
eral engineers, thus cutting 
the Army of the Potomac 
into several fragments. This 
was what Johnston had been 
waiting for, and he moved 
on McClellan's left early on 
May 31, General Hill's div- 
ision striking Casey about 
noon. A spirited engage- 
ment followed, notwithstand- 
ing the fact that Casey had 
lost part of his camp, the 
Confederate advance beincy 
a complete surprise. The 
panic that at first seized the 
pickets was checked, and a 
brisk artillery fire on Hill's 
leading brigades, gave Casey 
time to form a tolerable good 
line. Regan's, Bates', and 
Spratt's batteries held Hill 
aglee came up with the Fifty-Sixth, Ninety-third and 
fty-Second and One Hundred and P^ourth Pennsylvania 




FIELD HOSPITAL AT SAVAGE STATION, JUNE, 1863 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



231 




Spratt lost two of his guns after 
they had been spiked, and General 
Rhodes captured the pieces in the 
redoubt and turned them on the 
Federals. Couch's division lay 
across the Williamsburg road, his 
right resting on the York River 
Railroad, in rear of Fair Oaks 
Station, and he met the onslaught 
very firmly, while Heintzelman 
hurried up to his support, arriving 
on the ground alxuit four o'clock 
in the afternoon. Being the rank- 
ing officer, he assumed command. 

A brief pause ensued, after which 
the Confederates advanced on 




, CORDUROY ROADS. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 





Couch, striking his righi flank, 
and doubHng it up. General 
Johnston now appeared, and 
pt>rsonally directed his men. 
By a series of clever flank 
movements, he broke Heintz- 
elman's line in several places, 
drixlng hjni back, Kearney's 
tlixision bring almost thing 
into White Oak Swamp. 
When the battle began, 
McClellan was at New Bridge, 
at tile extreme right of his 
arm)-, but Sumner lay within 
striking distance, so he ad- 
vanced to Heintzelman's relief, 
crossing a slender bridge he 
had thrown across the Chicka- 
hominy the day before. This 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



233 




Near Fair Oaks, June, 1862. 



^34 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Joe Johnston was wound 
armies slept on the grounc: 
all along his line, intend- 
ing to pierce the Federal 
centre, and then defeat 
it in detail. The most 
deadly fighting was 
done by Pryor's and 
Mahone's brigades on 
the Confederate side, 
against the brigades of 
Howard and Meagher. 
Pryor had advanced on 
French's brigade and 
did such execution that 
the P\'deral line must 
have broken, had not 
Howard rushed for- 
ward. This began to 
turn the tide of battle, 
when " Little Skin and 
Bones," as Mahone's 
men called him, came 
running up and strength- 
ened Pryor, so that 
Howard found himself 
overwhelmed. This 
was Thomas Francis 
Meagher's opportunity 
and he w-as quick in 
accepting it. Waving 



the 



Grapevine Bridge, as it was 
afterwards known, enabled .Sum- 
ner to reach Heintzelman, as 
Longstreet and G. W. Smith 
renewed the attack, and he opened 
fire with several brass Napoleon 
gims, which moweid tlown the 
enemy with rapid discharge of 
grape and canister. A des- 
perate struggle then ensued, 
Brigadier-General A. Davis and 
Colonel Riker were killed, while 
Brigadier-General Pettigrew was 
wounded and taken j^risoner, his 
horse being killed. Sedgwick, 
O. O. Howard, Burns, French, 
Meagher and Sickles were soon 

.^ ,^_ hotly engaged and the battle 

raged until sun.set, when General 

Confederate command falling to General Smith. Both 



1 and the following morning, at dawn. Smith made an advance 




COLONEL RIKER. 
GENERAL NAGLEE. 



GENERAL J, W. PATTERSON. 
BRIC.-GENERAL PALMER. 



THE .MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



^35 




/ - 









vBs! 




■^. 



BinviNG TUB Dead, and Bukmnc Hokses at Faik Oak^. 

his sword over his head, and unconsciously adopting the brogue, as he often did when he 
was excited, the General exclaimed, " Now byes, here you've been grumbling all day, becase 
yc had'nt a dacint chance for a foight. By the Lord Harry, you areloikely to get your belly 
full of it now. Move forward, me darlings, and give 'em a taste of your quality for the sake 
of dear ould Ireland." The 
" boys " laughed at their Gen- 
eral's characteristic speech, 
and then with a wild yell, the 
famous Irish brigade plunged 
into the deadly melee, like a 
lot of schoolboys at play. 
Meagher's arrival enabled 
Howard to hoki his ground. 
It was a curious sight to see 
this Christian soldier riding up 
and down his line, encouraging 
the men in their deadly work. 
Howard was as calm and cool 
as he would be on parade, yet 
there was a glow on his cheek 
which betokened that fierce 
rage that invariably possesses 
the soldier in close combat- 
Howard had two horses shot 




~Z6 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




under him and he received a severe 
wound in the arm, but he refused to 
leave the fieKl. consmtin^- (inl\- that 
the wounded limb be liound by a 
handkerchief. When General How- 
ard again rode at the head of a column 
of troops, he wore an empty sleeve. 

Being fresh and naturally impetu- 
ous, Meagher's men dashed forward 
so earnestly that both I'ryor and 
Mahone had to fall back, and the entire 
right wing of the I'ederals was so 
straightened and strengthened that the 
Confederates found it impossible to 
break though. On McClellan's left, 
Hooker's division, assisted by Patter- 
son's and Sickles' brigades, presented 
a solid front, and after delivering a 
withering fire, finally succeeded in 
pushing back the Confederate col- 
umns. This ended the battle of 
Fair Oaks, but while the Confederates 



retn-ed on that Sunday afternoon they were soon to return with more deadly effect. 
There were two or three Federal reconnaissances in force towards Richmond, but they 




(iENEKAL C. J . RAINES, C. S 
LT.-GENSKAL D. H. HILL, C. 



RAL W. MALONK, C. S. A. 
UAJOR-OENERAL R. E. RODES, C. S. A. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



217 




Battlefield ok Fair Oa 



=38 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




did not reveal the presence of any hostile force, as the Confederates had retired to tlieir 
previous defensive position. This two day's battle was a very costly one to both armies. 
The Confederates lost their general and four thousand two hundred and twenty-three 
officers and men, w'hile the Federal loss was two Generals, one Colonel, and five thousand 
seven hundred and thirtv-nine men killed, wounded and missintr. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



239 




Battle of Winchester, V; 



CHAPTER XIX. 



STONEWALL JACKSOXS CAMPAIGN JL\N(T.UVRES. 



From the day he entered the field of hostile operations, in May, 1861, until the day of 
his death at Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863, General Thomas Jefferson Jackson was a sharp 
thorn in the side of the Federal Government. He possessed that rare faculty of beino- able 
to plan a brilliant campaign, and then successfully carry it out. He excelled in rapid 
movements, for he frequently fought one day in the 
Shenandoah \"alley, and within forty-eight hours forced 
another army on the other side of the mountain range. 
This occurred at the Battle of Bull Run, and " Stone- 
wall " was now to repeat the effort, and so save the 
City of Richmond from capture. 

It will be remembered that Jackson's threatening 
movement against Washington prevented McDowell's 
corps joining the main army under McClellan, and 
it will be necessary to here give an outline of his 
wonderful campaign in order that the reader may 
understand its importance in the many strategic moves 
made in the wide area of territory over which these 
opposing armies were manceuvreing. While McClellan 
was carrying his magnificent body of troops to the 
Peninsula, Jackson retired up the Shenandoah \'alley 
for the double purpose of keeping in touch with the 
Army of Northern Virginia, and drawing after him 
the Federal force, under General James Shields. On 




%(. 



240 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



March 2 2, a skirmish occurred near Winchester, between General Turner Ashby's 
Confederate cavah-y and one of Shields' brigades, during which the b'ederal General was 
hit b\- a fragment of a shell, which inllicted a painful wound, but he refused to leave the 
held. Believing that Jackson would not attack in force, General Banks left Shields and 
repaired to Washington. The next morning tin: wountled General fovnul Jackson's entire 
command on his immediate front. Conducting the sul)se(|uent engagenunt at Kenistown, 
from his bed of suffering, Shields succeeded in driving back his antagonist with heavy loss. 

Banks hastily returned, and taking 
connnand, pursued Jackson to his 
stronghold at Mount Jackson, forty 
miles bexond Winchester. There 
Jackson was joined In' General R. 
S. Hwell anil General Hdwartl J. 
lohnslon, who brought up two 
strong divisions of infantry and 
several field batteries, thus increas- 
ing Jackson's effective strength to 
nearly twenty-one thousand men. 
The disposition of the Federal 
forces in the East at that moment 
was as follows : — McClellan was 





threatening Richmond along the line 
of the Chickahominy, Banks occupied 
the Shenandoah \'alley and the line ., ' 
of the upper Potomac, McDowell 
stood at Fredricksburg, and b'remont 
was further west among the West 
Virginia mountains. The whole Fed- 
eral force under Fremont, McDowell 
and Banks, was aliout sixtv-one 
thousand men, McDowell having fully 
two-thirds of the entire strength, 
including Shields' division that had '\ 
been taken from Banks. In face of I 
so formidable a line, Jackson planned 

a most brilliant series of manoeuvres. Knowing that Fremont was pushing forward to join 
Banks, the Confederate General advanced to meet him, lea\ing b^wcll to hold Banks' 
attention. Meeting Fremont a few miles east of Stanton, Jackson compelled him to retire 
with loss, and then swiftly returned over the Shenandoah mountains in time to prevent Banks 
entering Manassas Gap on his way to join McDowell. It was this movement which took 
McDowell's corps from McClellan. Falling with crushing force on Colonel Kenly and his 
garrison, at Front Royal, Jackson wounded the commander, took seven hundred prisoners, 
two cannon and the Federal supply train. Banks was at Strasburg, and when he found 
that Jackson's twenty-one thousand men were advancing on his eleven thousand, he made a 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



241 




rapid retreat to Winchester, reaching the town at mid- 

nii^ht of May 24. At dayHght the following morning, 

a furious battle began, but Banks was only covering his 

retreat to the Potomac, at Martinsburg, twenty-two 

miles above Harper's Ferry. The Confederates, however, 

took three thousand prisoners and nine thousand muskets. 

To show what fatigue trained soldiers can endure, and 

yet accomplish long distances, it may be mentioned 

that Banks' division marched and fought over fifty-four 

miles of roads, during forty-eight hours. Though tol- 
erably orderly in their retreat, the Federals were glad 

enough when they found the Potomac between them and 

Jackson's advance. General Banks thus describes the 

fording of the Potomac : " The scene at the river, when 

the rear guard arrived, was of the most animating and 

exciting description. A thousand camp-fires were 

ijurning on the hill-side, a thousand carriages of every 

description were crowded upon the banks, and the broad 

river rolled between the exhausted troops and their 

coveted rest. There were never more grateful hearts in major-general j. c fremont. 

the same number of men than when, at midnight on the 26th, we stood on the opposite 

sliore." 

Moving down to Harper's Ferry, Jackson prepared for a descent upon Washington, 

for nothing seemed too formidable or hazardous to his fearless mind. But he soon learned 

that McDowell and Fremont were moving to intercept him, so he made another retrograde 

movement up the Valley. Starting during the night of May 29, Jackson left Ewell at the 

Ferry as a temporary rear guard, the latter maintaining a heavy cannonading during the 

whole of the following night, 
in order to convey the im- 
pression to the Federals that 
a battle was in progress. 
This curious device was car- 
ried out amidst a furious 
storm of rain, accompanied 
by terrific flashes of lightning 
and heavy rolling thunder. 
With their batteries perched 
on Bolivarheights, just above 
the town, Ewell's gunners 
seemed to be mocking the 
artillery in the heavens. The 
swish of the heavy drops of 
rain as they were hurled in 
the faces of the men by the 
howling wind ; the mighty 
peals of thunder rolling 
along the mountain peaks ; the vivid flashes of blinding 
electricity suddenly illuminating the scene, and the next 
instant leaving it in utter darkness, were Nature's 
contribution to the spectacle. Amidst it all, Ewell's 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




? 






L 




777^ MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



243 



cannon went on shelling Loudon and Maryland Heights, and as each gun gave tongue, 
and the shells burst on the mountain sides, it seemed as if Heaven and Earth were 
contending for the mastery. Such a scene recalls Milton's lines : 

" Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war, 
Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven. 
There stood a hill not far, whose gusty top 
Belch 'd fire and smoke." 

The vicissitudes of war had now reversed the programme, for Jackson's movement up 
the Valley was as precipitate as had been Banks' hurried retreat. Indeed so rapidly did 
the Confederates race for a place of safety, that, though Fremont reached Strasburg about 
noon of June i, they had passed through the town several hours before, and the division of 




GeVEKAL BVNKS' DiViSlON ReCOSSING P< 



•Attack " Sionkwali. " Jack- 



Tieneral .Shicdds, whicli had been sent by McDowell to join Fremont, did not get there 
until June 2. Stung l:)y Jackson's wonderful escape, Fremont pursued with vigor. Putting 
liis own troops in motion on the Harrisonberg turnpike, he sent Shields along the south 
fork of the .Shenandoah River, as it passes between the Blue Ridge and Massanutten 
Mountain ranges. Jackson burned all the bridges as he crossed them, thus retarding 
pursuit, and he reached Harrisonburg in safety on the morning of June 5. 

General Jackson was a sincere Christian. He did not parade his religious 
convictions, but they gave him a tremendous hold on the affections of his troops. Most 
men are profane when they are angry, but with Stonewall it was different. He could 
reprove without an oath passing his lips, yet the effect was quite as satisfactory. As a 
military commander, he deserved the high niche in history his achievements won for him. 
Had it not been Jackson's habit to make his own investigations, he would probabl)- have 



.^^ THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



lived to see Appomattox, though his fate was perhaps as kind to him as he could have 
wished, for he died at a moment when his side was victorious. The Lieutenant-General 
was a threat horseman. He sat the saddle easily, while there was a sort of abandon visible 
which showed his familarity with horseflesh from boyhood. His scat was very erect, and 
though it hatl none of the stiffness of the cavalry style, it was very correct. His stirrups 
were shortened to give a slight bend to the knee and enable him to adjust liis body to the 
movements of his steed without apparent e.xertion. As a soldier he ranked with Lee, for 
he was a born fighter, and never knew when he was defeated. His men adoretl him, and 
their part of the battle, was sure to be the hottest corner of the field. 

Fremont passed through Harrisonburg a few hours after Jackson's rear guard, and 



I 



I 



«: 




ikAMJ^ 



Jl! 









two miles beyond the town. Colonel Percy Wyndham, comniantling a few scpiadrons of 
cavalry, struck Ashby and his troopers. The Confetlerate C'.eneral halted and gave battle, 
his movement being so swift that Colonel Wyntlham and two entire Federal squadrons 
were matle prisoners. Their infantry then came up under Colonel Kane and opened fire, 
which caused General Stewart's brigade to halt in order to support Ashby. The skirmish 
was a hot one, for General Ashby was killed and Colonel Kane was wounded and made a 
prisoner. Leaving General Ewell with five thousand men, consisting of Stewart's, Elzy's 
and Trimble's brigades at Cross Keys, Jackson pushed on towards Port Republic. As 
Ewell was only a few miles from Harrisonburg, where P'remont's main force lay, the latter 
moved out for attack. The Federal line consisted of the brigades of Generals Schenck, 
Cluseret, Milroy, Stahl and Bohlen, while General Blenker's division held the position of 
reser\-e. The engagement opened about eleven o'clock of June 8, and was fought on both 
sides with stubborn courage until four in the afternoon, when just as Milroy's brigade were 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



245 




246 



THE ME.IfORIAL WAR flOOK. 



on the point of seizing the batteries on Ewell's 
centre, Stahl's men gave way before heax y mus- 
ketr)-, and compelled Fremont to retire. The 
losses on both sides were severe, the Federals 
losing an unusual proportion of officers, Kane's 
Bucktails not having even a corporal left in 
their ranks. 

While the battle of Cross Keys w^as in 
progress, the head of Shield's column reached 
Por't Republic, when Colonel Carroll, with his 
cavalr)-, captured the bridge, but omitted to 
destroV it. General Tyler, coming up, drove 
back 1 ackson's right, but when Fremont arrived 
on June 9, in pursuit of Ewell, the bridge was 
burning and the ri\er too deep for fording. The 
consequence was that Tyler had to retreat and 
Jackson had succeeded in preventing the 
threatened junction of Fremont and Shields. 
Leaving them in derision, the Confederate 
General started to join the Arm\- of Northern 
Virginia to aid in breaking up McClellan's 
Peninsular campaign. 




MA.IOK-GENERAL R. C. SCHENXK. 




B\T.-UAJOK-CBNERAL T. L. KANC. M AJOR-OKNERAl. R. H. M 

UAJOR-CENEKAt. J. STAHU 



BVT.-MAJOR GENERAL E. B. TYLER. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



247 




CHAPTER XX. 



BF.GIXXIN'G OF THE SEVEN DAYS BATTLE BEFORE RICHMOXD. 



After the battle of Fair Oaks, JNIcClellan resumed his favorite pursu 
formidable fortifications, while Robert E. Lee, who 
had succeeded Johnston in the command of the 
Army of Northern Virginia, prepared for a final blow 
which was to crush McClellan. General Lee was a 
remarkable man. Highly educated, and thoroughh- 
trained in the art of war ; he was a true soldier in 
every sense of the word. As aide to Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral Scott for several years before the war, he learned 
staff duty in the most thorough manner, and his 
studies made him a great tactician. This is shown 
by the methods of the Antietam and Gettysburg 
campaigns. In the former he actually marched an 
ami)-, ninety thousand strong, only provided with 
ammunition, for he depended on the invaded territory 
for the support of his men. Those who saw the dex- 
terous and sweeping forage of the Confederates 
remember how hay, grain, live stock, flour and other 
necessaries of life were rapidly gathered and carried 
acro.ss the upper Potomac. Though foraging was 
necessarily permitted, the discipline established by Lee 



it of throwine ur 




248 



FHR MEMORIAL WAR HOOK. 



...s so effectual that his soldiers committed no excesses, a statement that can only be 
, nf W can troops The tales told of the French, Russian, and other European 
::i:L:^:rs::;; editions, are in vivid contrast .ith the conduct of Northern and 
Southern musket bearers during their campaigns agamst each othei 

Whill directing his army on the f^eld. General L.ee presented a neat and sold.edy 
appearan e,and he^had a very graceful carriage in the saddle. ^^ hen u. n.ot.o:. he 
sat erect and composed, but he seldem rode at a faster ga,t than a canter. He had a 
curio.^ habit of laying his hands on the pomn.el, on haltu.g. to converse ..th anyone 
T^tn^ forward, Lees attitude was at once courteous and engagmg. But there was 
alv"y a look of sadness in his eyes, noticeable in no other General on e.ther sule. 1 he 




Major-Ge 



writer once saw Lee while going to the Confederate rear as a prisoner, and I was struck 
by the courtesy he displayed towards us. He asked a few questions but rece.vmg 
unw n. answe s, he politely lifted his hat and rode away. No General n. the Confederate 
er efeldsowarmaplaceinthe hearts of his soldiers, and that fact proves the true 
ZZ^^i the man, for. L their commander, he had to ior.. his men ^^^^^^—^^ 
but for every surviving veteran of the Army of Northern \ >rgm a, .t is al^^a)s a 
p^oud boast that he fought with Bob Lee, and every Federal veteran wd fully appreciate 
that sentiment, for they entertain the same feeling for their own commanders. 

General jkckson, on leaving Port Republic, as described in the last chapter, march d 
to As^lnd, ierehe arrived ].^. .5. having gathered up all of h,s detached commands unu 
he had a collective force of fully thirty-five thousand men. It is so happened that General 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



249 




(mi- *t2^: lij'<i- 




^"3^ 



if}-_si: mi If? 








2SO 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




MAJOR-GENERAI. J. 



McClellan had on the same day sent General Heintz- 
elman with his corps and the brigades of Hooker and 
Kearney on a reconnoissance beyond his extreme 
right. Heintzelman advanced as far as Oak Grove, 
sometimes known as King's Schoolhouse, where he 
uncovered Jackson's movement and retired. On 
learning from the few prisoners taken that they had 
come from the Shenandoah Valley, Porter took 
grovmd on Beaver Dam Creek, where he placed 
McCall's Pennsylvania Reserve, with Seymour's and 
Reynold's brigades, and plenty of artillery. Leaving 
Reynolds in command of that part of the line, Porter 
practically abandoned Mechanicsville, and waited for 
the attack he knew he could not long be delayed. 
It was the unexpected presence of [ackson, and his 
annoyance over the non-arrival of McDowell's forty 
thousand men, that led McClellan to finally seek 
refuge on the James River. 

It is no reproach to McClellan to say that Lee 
was his superior as a strategist, for the latter was the 

equal of Grant aind Sherman. Consequently, when he began the offensive, Lee found 

it comparatively easy to confuse his antagonist. General McClellan knew that the position 

of the Army of the Potomac was untenable, and he actually prepared for changing 

bases before Lee attacked. Immense quantities of commissary and ordnance supplies 

had been gathered at White House, and General Ingalls was astonished one day by 

receiving orders to carry all he could find transports for down the York and Pamunkey 

Rivers, and up the lames River, and destroy the remainder. This was the first sign of 

the projected movement, Ingalls did his best, and as McClellan's reserve artillery and 

wacTon trains were crossing the Chickahominy River, a dense volume of smoke informed 

the Federals that their base had been abandoned. Among the stores destroyed was a pile 

of hard bread, three hundred feet long, fifty feet 

wide and thirty feet high. Hundreds of artillery 

charges were opened, and the powder scattered over 

the pile, while barrels of oil were poured out. 

The match beingapplied to this infiammable material, 

the flames burned fiercely for two days and nights, 

while tents, wagons, tools and other supplies were 

destroyed in like manner. 

Lighted by the pillow of fire at White House, 

that night the army assumed its new position. The 

Fifth Corps, under Fitz John Porter, stood at Gaines' 

Mills, being attacked early on the morning of June 

27. Sykes, Regular division, which included the Fifth 

New York (Duryee's Zouaves), held the extreme 

right, and received the first blow. Captain J. H. 

Weed's regular battery being posted on the Cold 
Harbor Road opened fire on the head of A. P. Hill's 

column, and then Sykes wheeled into line and drove 

it back with heavy loss. Longstreet, who was to 

make a feint attack on Porter's left, was compelled 

BVT. -MAJOR-GENERAL TRUMAN SBY.MOUR. 




TTIE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



251 




252 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




BVT.-BRIGADIER-GBNERAL O. H 



MAJOR-GENERAL E. 



to do so in vax- 
ncst, and while 
he was arranging- 
his line, "Stone- 
wall " Jackson 
arrived and took 
position on Hill's 
left. The three 
corps, or divis- 
ions, then advan- 
ced in splendid style and strong force, but Porter's steady volleys of 
musketry decimated the Confederate ranks, and they were falling into 
disorder, when General Cobb came up and reinforced their line. 
Cobb made several charges without success, though the Nineteenth 
Carolina performed prodigies of valor, losing nearly all of their officers, and no 
less than eight color bearers. 
Despite the steadiness of his 
troops. Porter felt that he was 
being outnumbered, and in 
danger of having his right 
flank completely turned. He 
therefore asked McClellan for 
reinforcements, w^hen Slocuni's 
division was dispatched and 
came upon the ground lat(; in 
the afternoon. The battle 
now grew in severity, the Con- 
federates making a series of 
desperate charges, each being 
repulsed with terrific slaughter. 
Then Jackson, with Whiting 
and Longstreet dashed upon 
Porter's left, facing a terrific 
discharge of grape and canister, 
which mowed down the leading- 




BRIDGE ACROSS CIUCKAHO 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



253 




line, yet so determined was the movement that the 
Federals were on the point of falling back, when the 
brigades of Meagher and F"rench came across the river 
and dashed in. 

Butterfield's brigade becoming isolated, fought for 
nearly an hour all alone, but being overwhelmed, it 
was forced back, leaving the batteries of Weedon, 
Edwards, Hart and Allen so exposed that they had to 
retreat, abandoning several guns for want of horses to 
drag them of? the field. With the sun rushing towards 
the horizon. Porter discovered that he was really fighting 
the bulk of Lee's army, so called up his reserve artillery 
of eighty guns to cover his retreat across the Chicka- 
hominy. At that moment, General St. George Cook 
made a foolish charge with his cavalry on the Confed- 
erate flank, but being repulsed his men came rushing 
through the Federal batteries then going into action. 
Supposing that they were charged by Confederate 
GENEBAL iNGAiis cavalry, these Federal gunners were panic-stricken and 

limbering up their guns, galloped after the infantry, now heading for the pontoon 

bridges. It was an awful scene of confusion, but just then French and Meagher came 

trotting up from the river, and passed to the rear in splendid shape and magnificent spirits. 

Their appearance restored confidence, the Federals re-formed, and checking Jackson's 

headlong advance, managed to get across the River during the night and join McClellan's 

main body. The losses at Gaine's Mills were very heavy, the Federals leaving behind 

them over nine thousand men killed, wounded or prisoners, besides twenty-two cannon, 

ten thousand small arms and many wagons, containing ammunition and food. The 

Confederate loss was twelve thousand killed and wounded. 

McClellan now decided to push across the Peninsula to the |ames River. General 

Keyes was directed to hold the White Oak Swam]) Road, while Porter, McCall, Sumner, 

Franklin and Heintzelman moved through 

the swamp, carrying with them five thousand 

wagons, and the reserve and siege artillery, 

besides an immense drove of cattle and other 

supplies. Slocum's division held Savage's 

Station until this movement was accomplished. 

The Confederates, supposing that McClellan 

was still in force in front of White House, 

advanced in that direction, finding the depot 

in ruins, and acres upon acres of embers where 

the Federal supplies had been committed to 

the flames by Stoneman and Emory, who had 

gone to Yorktown. The retreat of McClellan 

was now revealed, and the pursuit at once 

began. 

The Federal commander was not only com 

pelled to sacrifice his White House stores, 

he had also to destroy vast quantities at Sav- 
age's Station, among them a train of railroad 

cars loaded with ammunition. This was first 




254 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



\.' 



.fV- 






■>^^\ 



}\ 



< 



f 



'V V 



^ 



f 



-<? 



4 n fl^ 




^.% 






1 

4^' 


r 


#1! 









,-Jl/! ,. 










mm) \%'» r-^ 

^^^ ^' y; /. j4\' -'^-' 









y > 



f 






■/'■''"■ "u.ij'-lr 



U '^■ 







THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



255 





set on fire, then sent, with the locomotive throttle valve open, to tall over the broken 
river bridge, each car exploding as it reached the surface of the sluggish stream. 
Scarcely had his entire army got across the Chickahominy, than McClellan found Lee 
close on his heels, but he was so elated by the success attending the movement that he 
sent an impertinent dispatch to Secretary Stanton, in which he said: "If I save this army 
now, I tell you plainly that I owe no thanks to you, or any other person in Washington. 
You have done your best to sacrifice this army.' 

Both armies now entered on their race to the banks of the James River, a series of 
desperate battles by day and night being the natural result. 




256 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



257 




CHAPTER XXI. 



MCCLELI.An's retreat to the JAMES RIVER. 



Gi 



The Federal retreat from the Pamunkey and the Chickahominy beuig uncovered, 
^■neral Lee immediately began a vigorous pursuit. He ordered the division under 

General Hill and Longstreet to cross the Chicka- 
hominy River at New Bridge, and advance along 
the Long Bridge and Darbytown roads, " Stonewall " 
Jackson being instructed to pass over by Grape 
Vine Bridge, and follow the South bank of the 
Chickahominy. General Huger was sent down the 
Williamsburg road, and General Magruder took 
the Charles City road. These manoeuvres gave 
apparent opportunity for striking General McClel- 
lan's flank and rear. So rapidly did these pursuing 
columns move, that Magruder reached the neigh- 
borhood of Savage's Station on the afternoon of 
June 29, in time to strike Sedgwick's division as it 
stood deployed across the railroad. General Sumner, 
being in command, formed line of battle, and vig- 
orously engaged Magruder. The latter supposing 
that the Federals intended advancing instead of 
retreating, he halted and sent for reinforcements, 
but discovered his error before they arri\ed, and 
at once moved forward to the attack. The brunt 




2:;S 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




of the Confederate assault fell upon the brigades 
under Generals Hancock, Brooke and IJurns, their 
artillery support being very effective. Despite the 
strong effort made by Magruder, the Federals held 
to their line, being greatly aided therein by the grape 
and canister used by the batteries of Captains Osborn, 
Pettit and Bramhall. Meagher's Irish brigade again 
distinguished itself here, making no less than three 
separate charges at critical moments. This engage- 
ment at Savage's Station ended at dark, and Sumner 
crossed White Oak Swamp and the creek durinof 
^B ' "Ma '•'^^ night, burning the bridge behind him. The 

r^ji i'nA. i Federals lost nearly nine hundred men, the Confed- 

r _ y ^ -t^B'Sll^ m erates over four hundred. 

General Jackson's column was delayed by having 
to rebuild Grape \ ine Bridge, so they did not reach 
Savage's Station until noon of June 30, but found nearly 
three thousand sick and wounded Federals who had 

GKNF.RAL Hl'GFR. C. S. A. 

been left behind, besides considerable military property 
that had not been destroyed for want of time. Without pausing Jackson pressed forward 
on McClellan's rear, being joined by Long-street and Hill, while Huger and Magruder 
took the Charles City road, with the intention of striking the flank of the Federal army. 
But General McClellan now showed the excellent fighting qualities he really possessed, 
when driven into a corner. As soon as all the corps had crossed White Oak Swamp, and 
the supply trains were well forward, the General decided to halt and give battle. Selecting 
an advantageous line near Willis Church, he placed General Hancock on the extreme 
right, and Fitz John Porter on the left, Sumner's and Heintzelman's corps occupying the 
centre. Scarcely had this disposition been made, when Jackson's division appeared, finding 
the bridge destroyed, while the road was covered by Captain Romeyn B. Ayres with his 
own and two of the reserve batteries. Jackson himself came up about noon, and at once 
opened fire on Hancock, while his troops attempted to repair the bridge, but they were 
driven back, even after several Con- 
federate batteries had gone into 
action. Finding it impossible to 
replace the bridge, Jackson made the 
desperate resolve to wade the ri\er, 
though it was nearly breast deep, but 
he did not succeed, for Hancock 
poured in a deadly musketry fire and 
Ayres' guns used grape and canister 
at awfully close range. It is impos- 
sible for men, however brave, to 
advance through deep water, while 
exposed to a storm of iron and leaden 
missiles, so the Confederates fell back. 
Meanwhile Hill and Longstreet 
had reached Nelson's Farm, two miles 
to the right of Jackson, finding 
Sumner and Hooker on the Federal 
right, McCall in the centre and Phil 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



259 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Kearney on the left. General Lee was on the ground, accompanied by President Jefferson 
Davis, who had come to witness the operations. McCall ami his Pennsylvania reserves 
were first attacked, but he drove back the Confederates, killing and wounding nearly three 
hundred men, and taking almost as many prisoners. Reinforced by fresh troops 
Long-street again advanced, and so pushed the F"ederals that they retired until Hooker's 
division appeared. The fighting now grew desperate, though the P'ederal line remained 
unbroken, until General Wilco.x's Alabama brigade dashed across a wide field, on McCall's 
left wing. Randall's battery opened a galling fire, but Wilcox had gained such headway 
that he succeeded in taking l)t)th Cooper's and Randall's batteries. Meagher's Irish 
Hrigade had now achieved such a reputation for sudden charges, it was ordered up to 
recapture the guns. "The Irish Divils," as Meagher called his command, made a most 
gallant effort, but the guns were not secured until a final movement was made by the entire 
Federal line. At sunset the Confederates retired to the shelter of the woods, leaving the 










^>'^ V- 








Federals in full possession of their original position. This battle of Willis Church cost 
McClellan nearly eighteen hundred men, the Confederates loss being about the same. 
The Federal General, Meade, and Colonel Simmins were among the wounded, the latter 
mortally, and General McCall was made a prisoner. 

But there was no rest for the Army of the Potomac. Scarcelj- had night set in when 
the several columns were in motion. Worn out by fatigue and ill-provided with food, 
owing to the necessity of keeping their supply trains in the advance, McClellan's men had 
marched every night, and fought every day. On the morning of July i, McClellan had 
massed his army at Malvern Hill. The position was well chosen, being admirably adapted 
for defensive purposes, for it was like a half moon, both ends extending towards the James 
River, which was clearly in sight. Remarkable tactical skill was .shown by McClellan in 
the disposition of his troojjs. S\kes' and Morell's divisions occupied the extreme left ; 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



261 










15« 














-^ y^ ^ 



262 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



next came Couch's, then those of Kearney, Hooker, 
Sedgwick, Richardson, Smith, Slocum and Casey. 
The flanks were also protected by the gunboats that 
liad come up the James River to clear the way for 
the supply transports. Along the semi-entrenched 
line, seventy pieces of cannon, among them eight large 
siege guns, commanded the approaches to the several 
positions. A war correspondent thus describes the 
attitude of the Federal Army : " There were crouch- 
ing cannon waiting for the enemy, and ready to 
defend all the approaches. Sheltered by fences, 
ditches, ravines, were swarms of infantry. There were 
horsemen picturesquely careering over the noontide 
and sun-scarred field. Tier after tier of batteries were 
grimly visible upon the slope, which rose in the form 
of an amphitheatre. With a fan-shaped sheet of fire, 
the)- would sweep the incline — a sort of natural glacis 
— up which the assailants must adxance. A crown of 
.MAJOK-..1INBKAL niiL. KKARNEv. canuon was on the brow of the hill. The first line of 

batteries could only be reached by traversing an 
open space of from three to foiu- hundred yards, exposed to grape and canister from the 
artillery, and musketr\- from the infantry. If that were carried, another and still another 
more difficult remained in the rear." 

General Lee decided to storm McClellan's centre, despite the expostulations of his 
subordinate Generals. Massing the bulk of his command on McClellan's right, Lee 
scattered his artillery in such a way as to give a concentrated cross fire, by which means he 
e.xpected to silence the tremendous array of batteries on McClellan's front. These 
formidable preparations occupied considerable time, so it was not until half-past three 
o'clock that the Battle of Malvern Hill was begun by a furious storm of shell and shot 
from Lee's guns, which fell mainly on Keyes' and Heintzelman's division. Then Hill 



V . i 




. J. SKUGWICK. 



^..OENERAL ' 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



263 




moved forward, striking Couch's brigade, but by some 
mistake, only Moorman's battery had been directed to 
accompany him. Moorman was soon driven away by 
heavier metal, the other batteries, that came up at 
Hill's urgent request, meeting the same fate. The 
Confederate infantry encountered such a concentrated 
musketry volley that human nature could not stand 
up before it, and the line fell back in confusion. 
Heintzelman improved his opportunity and assumed 
an advanced and more advantageous position. 

The crash of musketry caused l)y Hill's assault 
was taken by Magruder as a signal for his own move- 
ment, and he at once began a desperate and furious 
attack on F"itz John Porter, who was holding McClel- 
lan's left wing. So sudden was the movement that 
two brigades of McLaw's division actually charged up 
to the muzzles of Porter's guns, being met by an 
awful shower of grape and canister at a distance of less 
than one hundred yards. The effect was a terrible 
MAJOR-GENERAL JOE HOOKER. One, f o r \\\<t jagged iron missiles tore wide gaps in the 

charging line, literally covering the ground with dead 

dying and wounded men. Of course the assault by Magruder was repulsed, as were 

others equally desperate, at different 

points in the opposing lines. Then 

the fighting became general, the triple 

serried lines of Federal guns poured 

out thousands of shells and the infantry 

made Malvern Hill appear to be on 

hre, for there was no cessation in 

their steady volleys of musketry, 

shattering the advancing columns as 

if they were struck by lightning. Fi- 
nally there was a pause, and as the 

sun went down, the Confederates fell 

back. The Federals supposed the 

battle to be at an end. In that they 

were mistaken 

General Lee was convinced that 

the campaign could only end success- 
fully for the Confederates by driving 

McClellan into the river and so 

annihilate his army. He therefore decided that Malvern 

Hill must be taken, no matter what sacrifice it might 

occasion, and an advance of his entire line took place 

at six o'clock. The fighting that ensued was of the 

most extraordinary character, for the antagonists were 

frequently so close that they exchanged musket volleys 

at the distance of ten or twenty yards, the execution 

being most deadly. The artillery fire was also very 

severe, that of the Federals being increased by ten-inch 




264 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



shells from the gunboats in the river, their huge missiles falling upon the masses of 
Confederates and harrassing iheir supply trains. Lee's men performed the task set them 
to the best of their ability, but failed to shala? the Federal Army from its defensive 
position. Disheartened, but not dismayed. Lc^e fmally abandoned the attempt, and 
at nine o'clock withdrew his line. General McClellan, in his report to the Secretary of 
War, thus describes the battle of Malvern Hill: "Brigade after brigade formed under 
cover of the woods, started at a run to cross the open space and charge our batteries, but 
the heavy fire of our guns, with the cool and steady volleys of our infantr)-, in every case 
sent them reeling back to shelter, and covered the ground with their dead and wounded. 

In several instances our infantry withheld their 
fire until the attacking columns — which rushed 
through the storm of canister and shell from our 
artillery — had reached 
within a few yards of our 
lines. They then poured 
m a single volley, and 
dashed forward with the 
bayonet, capturing pris- 
oners and colors, and 
driving the routed col- 
umns in confusion from 
the held." 





The fatigues endured 
bv McClellan's soldiers 
during this six days' and 1 ■* 

six nights' movement, was 
of the most severe char- 
acter. Compelled by the 

stead)' pressure of Lee's jefferson davis. 

columns to fight almost every hour of daylight, and frequently- 
until far into the night, and then march amid the darkness 
to some new position, men actually walked in their sleep, 
and dozed in the presence of active hostile batteries. Despite 
every effort to push forward the supply trains it was necessary 
that nearly one thousand wagons should remain with 

the marching corps, in order that supplies of ammunition and food might be within reach. 
These wagons were, however, continually in the way, and the Federal artillery found their 
progress very difficult at times, owing to the roads being in possession of the trains. There 
was no time for building bridges, everything passing over the creeks and rivers on pontoons. 
which added to the impediments of the army. The infantry suffered the most 
hardship, because they had to be content with footpaths on the edge of the roads. 
Plodding wearily forward with their muskets, ammunition, hard-tack, and blankets, the 
soldiers stumbled along in the darkness, over sand in the roads, through mud in the 
swamps, and up to their waists in water wherever a stream crossed the route, bootsore, 
hungry and haggard for want of sleep, these young men, who two Nears before had never 
heard a shell or a bullet in the air, followed their Generals without a murmur, without 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



265 




complaint, thouyh most of them knew that grievous mistakes had been made by the men 
holding authorit)' over them. 

The men who fought at Gaines' Mills and Cold Harbor marched all that night, and 
fell in line of battle at dawn. So it was during the entire movement. " Halt ! " would be 
the word, then " Load" ran down the line, and as the clatter of the steel ramrods ceased, 
a bugle would sound, and away would go the line, through dense woods, across open fields, 
through brook or swamp, until a sudden blaze of light Hashed out in front, and the angry 

hum of bullets saluted the ear. Then _ 

it was fire and reload, and fire again, 
as fast as cartridge could be bitten, and 
rammed, and sent home. This sort of 
thing would go on for an hour or two, 
fresh boxes of ammunition being brought 
up to replenish the men's belt pouches. 
By and by, the artillery fire would grow 
too hot, the lines shake, and then there 
came a charge by the Confederates. As 
the Southern yell broke on the air, the 
Federal line would stiffen and its volleys 
grow heavier and more vengeful. Shells 
were bursting everywhere overhead, or 
crashing among the trees, a storm of 
bullets buzzed in the air like an army 
of angry hornets, but the rage of the 
battle was in every heart and so the 
fight grew more intense and destructive. 







TAMES RIVER. 



266 



THE MKMORIAI. WAR BOOK. 




Five or six hours of this sort of work would exhaust the streni^lli of the men on both 
sides. Alull would filially come, a few changes be made in the line, wounded men be sent to 
a surgeon, and then the battle would break out again, and continue until long after night 
had -set in. As the several corps marched in their turn, the muttrring of distant cannon 
told that the rear guard was doing its duty, and that the piu'suit was untiring. Hundreds 
of wa^^ons broke down, and were either burnt'tl or flung into the nearest ri\cr. Disabled 
cannon were dismountetl and pitched into swampy holes, wlu-re many of them are, no doubt, 
still Iving. Destruction and ha\dc was visible ever\-where, antl as the nnnnant of the one 
hundred and sixty thousand iiK-n who landed during March and April at b'ortress Monroe, 

amid so much pomp and display, mo\ed from battlefield 
to battlefield, the men wondered what it all meant. 
The dead were left unburied as they fell, the wouiuletl 
had to be abandoned for lack of vehicles to carr\- them, 
and no man knew how soon it might be his own fate to 
lie a corpse on the grass, or a helpless prisoner in the 
hanels of the enemy. Such were the "Six Days' 

Battles" before Richmond. 
Mortified as General 
Lee must have been at the 
result of the Battle of 
Malvern Hill, he was even 
more chagrined the fol- 
—^—^^,—^^^- lowing mornine when he 

^^^■^ .il» i! IliJitf it III >^ 

discovered that 
General McClel- 
lan hatl retreated 
during the night, 
leaving him in 
empty possession 
of the field. The wes.over ..AN,.,Nr.. 

Federal movement, though successful, was 

performed amid much hardship, for scarcely 

had Lee withdrawn his battalions, than a terrific 

rain storm began, so that the men were soon 

drenched to the skin, and they actually waded 

through mud. How the troops managed to general »•. w. averell and staff. 

march at all, after six such days of constant 

skirmish ami battle few could realize. It should be said here that the abandonment of 

the Hills of Malvern — how rich is the soil of Virginia with English historic names — was 

not made by McClellan without earnest protests from his corps and division commanders. 

Porter, Heintzelman, Hooker, Meade, Kearne}', Sumner and Couch, all of them graduates 

of West Point, were astountled when McClellan unfolded his plan. They reminded the 

commanding General that the battle just fought on the afternoon and night of July i, 

had so torn and shattered the Confederate army that it was impossible for it to again 

assume the offensive, but McClellan could not be shaken. Phil Kearney, who had left an 

arm in Mexico, and was to meet a soldier's death before the end of that summer, 

swung his empty sleeve, and exclaimed, "As an old soldier, L Philip Kearney, enter my 

solemn protest against this order for a retreat. We ought, instead of retreating, to follow 

the enemy, and take Richmond ; and in full view of all the responsibilities of such a 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



267 



declaration, I say to you all, such an order can only be prompted by cowardice or treason." 
Kearney was not placed under arrest for his intemperate speech, and the retreat was 
made, McClellan's army reaching Harrison's Landing about daylight of July 2, having 
marched at the rate of a mile per hour. To say that the men were disheartened by the 
extraordinary campaign they had passed through, is only half the truth, for, being 
accustomed to criticise their commanders, these men saw that notwithstanding every battle 
they had fought during the past week had really resulted in a victory by their being left in 
possession of the position, the "strategy" of their General had converted it into a positive 
defeat. It was in this mood that the army read with amazement the bulletin issued by 

McClellan on the Fourth of 
July. Adopting a truly Napo- 
leonic st\lc, the General thus 
addressed his troops: "Your 
achievements of the last ten days 
ave illustrated the valor and 
endurance of the American sol- 
dier. Attacked by superior 
forces, and without hope of 
reinforcement, you have succeed- 




in changing your base 
of operations by a flank 
movement, always regarded 
as the most hazardous of 
military expedients. You 
have saved your material, 
all your train, and all your 
guns, except a few lost in 

battle, taking in return guns gkoup of officers belom,,n ,,,, ,, „. . ,,^^p,^,, ;,,,,,.■„„. 

and colors from the enemy. 

Upon )our march you have been assailed day after da)' with desperate fury by men of 
the same race and nation, skillfully massed and led. Under every disadvantage of numbers, 
and necessarily of position also, you have, in every conflict, beaten back your foes with 
enormous slaughter. Your conduct ranks you among the celebrated armies of history. 
No one will now question that each of you ma)- always with pride sa)-, ' I belong to the 
Army of the Potomac' You have reached a new base, complete in organization and 
unimpaired in spirit. The enemy may, at any time, attack you. We are prepared to 
m(;et them. I have personally established )our lines. Let them come, and w^e will 
convert their repulse into a final defeat." 



3n8 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



\\\ utter contrast to McClellan's address to his army, Jefferson Davis issued another to 
Lee's troops in which he said; "I congratulate you on the series of brilliant victories 
which, under the favor of Divine Providence, you have lately won, and, as the President 
of the Confederate States, do heartily tender to you the thanks of the country, whose just 
cause )-ou have so skillfully and heroically served. Ten days ago an invading army, vastly 
superior to you in numbers and the material of war, closely beleaguered your capital and 
vauntingly proclaimed its speedy conquest ; you marched to attack the enemy in its intrench- 
ments ; with well-directed movements and death-defying valor, you charged upon him in 
his strong positions, drove him from field to field over a distance of more than thirty-five 
miles, and despite his reinforcements, comix-lled him to seek safety under the cover of his 





/ H 














/M 




^ 


. 


H9p'^' / ' ^^^^Blfl 


3lw|Hj||pflilffli WHB^ibBI^^ 


^^^^B 


K 


p^ .. j^Lg^ 




i 


\ 



gunboats, where he now lies cowering before the ami)- so lately derided and threatened 
with entire subjugation." 

The losses during the Six Days' Battles as they will be known in History, were very 
great, for the b'ederals lost fifteen thousand, two hundred and fort\-nine men killed^ 
wounded and missing, while the Confederates sustained a loss of nineteen thousand three 
hundred and seventy, an aggregate of thirty-four thousand six hundred and nineteen. Of 
these not more than seven thousand were subsequently able to re-enter the field. 

McClellan's Peninsula campaign was strategetically a failure, but it had one good 
effect, for the Southern troops learned that the " Yankees," coukl fight, while the Federals 
began to realize that the war would last for a year or two longer. I'ron: that time the 
two armies in the East entertained a high respect for each other. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



269 




2/0 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




General Views ok Cu'Li-eiter. Va., Aigist, 1862. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



271 





CHAPTER XXII. 



BEGINNING OF POPES VIRGINIA VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 

During- his operations on the Virginia Peninsula, McClellan received nearly one 
hundred and sixty thousand men. When 
President Lincoln reviewed the arm)' at 
Harrison's Landing, on July 7, he saw only 
eighty-six thousand. The remainder had been 
removed by disease or casualties on the field. 
Fully fifty thousand fell victims to malaria 
and fever. The President and his cabinet now 
decided that an older and wiser soldier should 
be placed at the head of all the F'ederal armies, 
and as General Henry Wager Halleck had 
shown ability in the West, he was summoned 
to Washington, and appointed Commander-in- 
Chief. Halleck visited McClellan, who de- 
manded fifty thousand additional troops in 
order that he might again move on Richmond, 
but as Halleck did not approve of the plan, 
he refused to furnish the reinforcements, and 
finally ordered McClellan to transfer his army 
to Acquia Creek, on the Potomac. Halleck 
had become convinced that the Virginia Valley 
was the true base of operations against Rich- 
mond, and so had Secretary Stanton. It was 
therefore decided to consolidate the army under 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



273 




274 



TIIF yrPMORIAT. WAR BOOK. 



McClellan with the Army of X'irginia, then under command of General John Pope, who 
hail risen into prominence by his services in the West at New Madrid, Island Number Ten, 
and the siejje of Corinth. 

Tieneral Pope fell into the error that the Confi'derale Generals in the East were on a 
par with General John R. Floyd, lie also entertained a poor opinion of the Eastern 
l*"ederal Generals, because Halleck, Sii^^el, and himself had been summoned from the West. 
There was some excuse for this overweening vanity, as the armies under Fremont, Banks 
and McDowell had been reduced to the rank of corps, and Pope was given the chief 
command. Fremont resented this arrangement, and was relieved at his own request. 
General Sigel succeeding him. The total force was about fon\-tive thousand men, of all 
arms, being subsequently increased by the arrival of Burnside with ten thousand more. 
But instead of bein>r concentratetl, the iroons were scattered alony" an exteiuKtl line from 




Fredericksburg, on the Rappahannock River, to Centreville, near Manassas, and also in 
the Shenandoah Valley. Pope was instructed to cover Washington, guard the Shenandoah 
entrance to Maryland, and make adiversionin favor of McClellan, rather a heavy task for 
one man. It should be noted here that Pope coincided with McClellan that the Peninsula 
was the true base of operations against Richmond, and offered to take his entire force over- 
land if McClellan would act simultaneously. But the latter treated Pope very coldly, and 
both Generals came to grief. Pope assumed command July 28. when he issued a 
bombastic bulletin to his troops, which only made them smile. Among other things 
he said : 

" I ha\e come to you from the \\"est. where we have always seen the backs of our 
entmies — from an arm\- whose business it has been to seek the adversar\-, and beat him 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



275 



when found ; whose policy has been attack, and not defense. In l)ut one instance has the 
enemy been able to place our Western armies in a defensive' attitude. I presume 1 have 
been called here to pursue the same system, and to lead you against the enem)-. It is m)- 
purpose to do so, and that speedily. I am sure )ou long for an opportunity to win the 
distinction you are capable of achie\ing ; that o[ip(irtunit)- I shall endeavor to give you. 
In the meantime I desire you to dismiss certain phrases, I am sorry to find, much in vo^ue 
amongst you. I hear constantly of taking strong positions, and holding them — of lines of 
retreat and basis of supplies. Let us discard such ideas. The strongest position a soldier 
should desire to occupy is one from which he can most easily advance against the enemy. 
Let us study the probable line of retreat of our opponents, and leave our own to take care 
of itself. Let us look before us and not behind. Success and glory are in the advance — 




disaster and shame lurk in the rear. Let us act on this understanding, and it is safe to 
predict tliat your ]:)anners shall be inscribed with many a glorious deed, and that )our 
names will be dear to your countrymen forever." 

General Pope was a fine horseman, and looked exceedingly well in the saddle. He 
was also a good soldier, except his fondness for general orders, which promised more than 
could be performed. As a subordinate commander he always did well, but as an independ(Mit 
general he failed. His last order was to the effect that from that date "headquarters 
would be in the saddle." Jvidging him by subsequent events, his soldiers used to say that 
Pope's hindquarters were in the saddle and his headquarters nowhere. But soldiers are 
alwa)'s sarcastic. 

While the P^ederal Generals were (juarrelling among themselves, thereby destroying 



2y6 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



the morale of their troops, the Confederates entered upon a more visjorous scheme of 
operations. Hitherto they had acted in the defensive, but as conscri[)tion had greatly 
enlari,red their armies, it was decided that Bragg should advance on Louisville and 
Cincinnati, while Lee was to invade Maryland, and push for Washington, Baltimore and 
Philadelphia. The idea was that by capturing these three cities, the Lidependence of the 
Confederacy would be assured. Lee had now ready one hundred and fifty thousand men 







at his command, and he decided to take two-thirds of this number on his campaign of 
mvasion. Then Pope issued orders, directing his troops to subsist upon the country in 
which they were operating, and that the cavair)' were to have no supply or baggage trains. 
He also announced that the inhabitants along the lines of railroads and telegraphs would be 
held responsible for any damage done, with many other intemperate and absurd provisions. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



277 




PHOTOGRArHS TaKEN AT THE Til 



TIJF. }nUTORI.\r. WAR BOOK. 



The Confederate General issued retaliator)- orders, and there seemed some danger that 
subsequent operations would not be conducted on the recognized lines of civilized warfare. 
While McClellan was slowly and reluctantly transferring his troops to Acquia Creek, 
and John Pope was issuing his ridiculous bulletins, which secured for him the soldiers' 
nickname of "Saddle-Bag lohn," the h'edcral Government summoned six hundred 
thousand more men into the held. Owing to the slowness of recruiting, a system of 
bounties was unwisely resorted to, as it added to the expenses of the war without 
materially quickening'the patriotic ardor of the young men in the several States, for in the 




Rappahannock Bkii 



end, compulsory tlrafts had to be resorted to, in order that the armies might be ])roperl\- 
strengthened. 

When Pope arrived at Culpepper, \'a., on August 8, he learned that a strong Confederate 
force was advancing across the Rapidan River, and he at once prepared for battle with 
the twenty-eight thousand men he had on the ground. He ordered Banks to take 
possession of Slaughter Mountain, not knowing that the sagacious Jackson, who knew 
almost every foot of the territory, had anticipated him. Ewell's division was concealed in 
a dense mass of woodland, while Hill's lay in thei^ear. Fighting began early in the morning 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



279 







iluDCE ACROSS No 



Fork Rappahannock Rive 



of August 9, but Banks was outnumbered, and had to fall back from Cedar Run, which 
was as far as he got, losing eighteen hundred men, Brigadier-General Prince being made 
a prisoner, while Brigadiers Augur, Carroll and Geary were wounded. The following 
day was the Sabbath, and as the Confederates had fallen back, the Federals recovered their 
lost ground and buried 
tlieir dead. Then tlie 
Confederates entirely dis- 
appeared, leaving their 
dead and wounded behind. 
An autograph letter of 
General Lee's, revealing 
his intention to fight Pope 
before IMcClellan could 
join ,hini, fell into the 
hands of the Government. 
Pope was accordingly or- 
dered to fall back beyond 
the Rappahannock River, 
his command in the 
field being reinforced 
by Reno's division, 
of Burnside's corps. Gen- 
eral Stevens, with ten 
regiments from Port 




28o 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Royal, and (.cncral King's brigade, belonging to McDowell's corps. Though Pope's army 
was now fort\- thousand strong, he obeyed and retreated, beginning the retrograde move- 
ment during the night of August i8. Sending foward his immense train of ammunition 
and commissary wagons, with all the other cumbersome camp equipage, the General forbade 
the lighting of camp fires, and sent instructions to the brigade commanders that the 

movement of the troops must 
be secret and silent. So ac- 
curately were these orders 
obeyed, that the entire army 
had passed through Culpep- 
er, and the advance was 
crossing the Rappahannock 
River by noon of the 19th, 
all of the trains being well 
on their way to W'arrenton 
function. 

Though it was really 
a rt-treat, the scene was a 
lirilHanl one. Heavy masses 
of infantry marched steadily 
over the plain, a cloud of 
active cavalry covering the 
rear, while the ponderous 
batteries rumbled over the 
dry earth as they toiled in 
one massive column through 




BATTLE OF CHDAR MOUNT 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



the dust, raised by the feet of the foot soldiers. Far in advance, the snowy covers 
of the supply wagons extended for miles, the patches of white canvas glistening in the hot 
sunshine. The artillery crossed the river over the railroad bridge at Rappahannock Station 
but the infantry waded through the water at Beverly Ford. General Sigel was in the 
advance, Generals McDowell and Banks were in the centre, and Reno brought up the rear. 
By noon of August 20, all of the columns were north of the Rappahannock, though the 




Confederates were in heavy force on the other side, General Bayard, who commanded the 
Federal rear guard, having frecjuent skirmishes with Lee's advance. 

During the next two days there was considerable fighting, principally artillery 
exchanges, the Confederates seeking possession of the fords and bridges, but Pope held them 
until General James Ewell Brown Stuart made a wide detour with his cavalry, and came 
out in Pope's rear at Catlett's Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, only 



:S2 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




t hii"t\ -li\ I- iiiili-> liuin 
W ;is h i n i; t o n. 1 1 ere 
Stuart found most of 
the l^'ederal trains, c 
which he destro)eil a 
that could not he carried 
off, the feat being a 
pecuHarly daring' and 
successful one. 




General Stuart (best known as " Jeb," from 
the initials of his name) was the Pleasonton or 
Sheridan of the Confederate Army. As a 
raider he had few equals, and his cavalry com- 
mand proved to be a terror in Pennsylvania and 
Maryland during the Antietam and Gettysburg- 
campaigns. A good fighter, an experienced tac- 
tician, and a daring raider, Stuart naturally won 
a high rank among the Generals of the .South. 

I5y the destruction of Pope's trains, the 
Confederates had inilicted a mortal blow, for 
Stuart's raid had a demoralizing effect on both 
the Federal General and his troops. They 
had been moving along so nicely and regularly, 
it was really humiliating to find that their line 
of communications had been successfully cut. 
Pope also discovered that Lee was mo\ ing in 
lorce on his right, and telegraphed urgently to 
Washington for reinforcements. These were 
promised, but there were unavoidable delajs 
and Pope was in a perilous position. His 
sirateg)' had prn\cd tlefeclixc, and In; was 
soon to learn a lesson he probabl)" ne\'er 
forgot. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



283 




Railroad at Manassas. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



THE BATTLES OF GAINESVILLE, SECOND BULL RLTN, AND CHANTILLV 



General Robert E. Lee was now full)' prepared for his dcscc 
Pennsylvania, and as the first step in his 
matured plan of operations was to double 
up Pope and so clear his path, the Confede- 
rate commander proceeded to do it. ".Stone- 
wall " Jackson started on a flank movement 
around the Bull Run range of Mountains, and 
passing around Thoroughfare Gap, reached 
within striking distance of Bristoe Station 
at sunset of August 26, having made a won- 
derful march of some fifty miles, over difficult 
roads, in the short space of thirty-six hours. 
At the same time Longstreet was advancing 
by way of Gainesville, so that not only did 
Lee threaten Pope's right flank, but he 
stood in a position to cut off his direct 
communications with Washington. In other 
words Pope's wings stood in the air, neither 
having a secure resting place. 



nt into I\Iar\'land and 




284 



THE MF.MORTAI. WAR BOOK. 



Hut Pope proved equal to tlic emergency, and he soon got his forces well in hand. 
Hooker had advanced towards Manassas Junction, where he encountered Early, and had a 
hot cn>'-agement. Reynolds, Sigel and McDowell were trying to intercept Longstreet, 
while Reno and Kearney were in the direction of Greenwich. Fitz John Porter, who had 
come up from .McClellan, at .Xccjuia Creek, received orders to stay at Warrenton Junction 

until Banks could relieve him. On 
the evening of August 27, Colonel 
George D. Ruggles, who was Gen- 
eral Pope's chief-of-staff, sent a 
dispatch to P'itz John Porter, .saxing : 
" The Major-General commanding 
directs that you start at one o'clock 
to-night, and come forward with 
your whole corps, or such part of 
it as is with j'ou, so as to be here 
Ijy da\ light to-morrow morning. 
Hooker has had a very severe action 
with the ene- 
my, with a loss 
of about three 
hundred killed 
and wounded. 
The e n c m )• 
has been driv- 
en back, but is 
retiring along 
the railroad. 
We must dri\'e 





him from Ma- 
nassas, ami 
clear the coun- 
try between 
that place and 
Gainesville, 
where Mc- 
Dowell is. If 
Morell has not 
joineil }()u, 
send word to 
him to push 

forward immediately ; also send wortl 
to Banks to hurrj- forward with 
speed to take your place at Warren 
ton Junction. It is necessary on a 
accounts, that you should be here b)- 
daylight." 

But the overweening self-confi- 
dence of Pope is shown by his sub- 
sequent dispatches. To General 
Kearney he wrote : " At the ver)- 
earliest blush of dawn jjush forward 
with your commanil with all speed to this place. I want you here at ilax-dawn. if possible, 
and we shall bag the whole crowd. Beprom|jtand expeditious, and nexcr mind wagon trains 
or roads till this affair is over." General McDowell received the following : " At day-light 
to-morrow morning, march rapidly on Manassas Junction with your whole force, rest^g 
your right on the Manassas Gap Railroad, throwing your left well to the east. Jackson, 
Ewell, and A. P. Hill are between Gainesville and Manassas Junction. We had a severe 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



28s 




CONPBDBRATE FORTIFICATION AT MaNASSAS. 



.'86 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Majok-Ge 



fufht with them to-il.iy, driving; ihe-m back several iniles along- the railroad. If you will 
inarch promptly and rapiilly at the earliest dawn of day upon Manassas Junction, we shall 
ba<>- the whole crowd." With the last words uppermost in his mind, Pope wrote to 
General Reno : " March at earliest dawn of day, with your whole command, on Manassas 
Junction. Jackson, Ewell and A. P. Hill are between Gainesville and that place, and if you 
are promi)t and expeditious, we shall bag the wliole crowd." But the Confederates were 
not to be so easily bagged, as the sequel showed. 

To the military student it must be evident that the positions oi both Lee and Pope 

were now critical. Pope was cut off 
from his supplies, while Lee's columns 
were extended over a long line and 
compelled to act independently. Jack- 
sdii, tinding himself threatened, de- 
cided to evacuate Manassas, and join 
the Confederate main body at Cen- 
treville, but Kearney overtook him 
on August 28, and drove the Con- 
federates out of Centreville. Turning 
towards Thoroughfare Gap, over the 
Warrenton road, Jackson struck Mc. 
Dowell on the evening of August 28, 
when a desperate engagement ensued. 
Doubleday's and Gibson's brigades 
bore the burden of the fight, the 
desperate character of which is shown 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



287 




2S8 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



by the fact that two Confederate Generals, Ewell and Taliaferro, were desperately 
wounded, the fornur losing a leg. 

The main body of Pope's army was now bc'twet-n Jackson and TliorouyhtaiL' Cjcqj. 
His three divisions, under Reynolds, Sigul anti McDowell, hatl a collective strength of 
twenty-live thousand men, sufficient to prevent Jackson joining Longstreet. Pope intended 
that Reno, Kearney, Hooker, Heintzelman and Porter should strike Jackson with their 
united divisions before Longstreet could conic up. Put the latter had been making forced 
marches, and reached the Gap before ihr l"rd<rals were in force, consequently the 
Confederates united and presented a l)old front, I'opc's ailvanccd divisions Ining compelled 
to retire. On the morning of August jq, 1 U)oker and KearncN' struck Jackson near 
Groveton. as they were pushing forward from Centrexille, and a sharp engagement 
followed, [ackson falhng back to forma new line on the Gainesville and Leesburg roads. 




Nearly all the Federal divisions were engaged, one after the other, but nothing decisive 
occurred until late in the afternoon, when Heintzelman and Reno moved in. The 
onslaught was a furious one, the Federals carrying everything before them, though their 
losses were very heavy, Grover's brigade, in Hooker's division, suffering the most. But 
McDowell, Avho had been ordered towards Sudley Springs, did not come into line until 
near sunset, and Porter did not appear for an hour after, consequently the Confederates 
recovered part of their lost ground by driving back Kearney on the Warrenton Turnpike. 
This battle of Gainesville has always been claimed as a victor\- by both Confederates and 
Federals, but being indecisive, it must be considered as a drawn battle, though a very costly 
one, for the loss on each side was nearly seven thousand men. As the opposing forces 
were not over si.xty thousand, one fourth were either killed, wounded or made prisoners 
— an appalling result. 

Pope's position had now Ijecome desperate. He had onl)- forl\- thousand men left, 
while the Confederates were able to put forward over sixty thousand. The loss of his 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



289 




Crossing the Potomac. 




The Horrors of Wa 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




supply trains further crippled Pope, for his 
iiK-n were without food, and their ammunition 
was running short. Still he decided to risk 
another battle, hoping to sufficiently cripple 
Lee, to render him unable to advance on 
Washington, no one having realized that the 
Confederate General really aimed at a cam- 
naign of invasion. General Lee had now 
reachetl tlie scene, and assumed commaml with 
more troops. 

The battle of Manassas, or the Second Bull 
Run, as it is usually called, occurred on August 
30, and it proved to be a disastrous one for the 
Federal General and his Government. During 
the entire previous night Lee's forces had been 
pouring through Thoroughfare Gap, but so 
cleverly was the movement masked that Pope 
believed that Lee was in reality retreating. 
McDowell was then ordered to take his divis- 
ion and Porter's alongthe Warrenton Turnpike. 
Porter, being in advance, suddenly came upon 
a very heavy force under Jackson, who, adopting 
his customary tactics, had massed his men in a heavy wood, and so was able to strike 
Porter's left and double it up. While Porter's line was staggering under this assault, the 



■'<fe-V-^M' 







THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




I^EDERAL Baggage Train of Por 



Army Making its Way Through the Mountains to Manassas Junc 



/•///•: MF.MORfAL WAR POOK 




vw A.^'-^i^ 



ki^- '-■-T 



%iV 







CONFEORRATE FoRCE ADVANCING CN RATfAUANNOCK STATION. AND CoM>' 



THE Battle of Ga 



Confederates opened on the Federal flank, -which in its turn was shattered. McDowell 
then sent Reynolds from Porter's left to support Mi'roy and Schenck, the transfer leaving 
a gap in the line, which Colonel Warren, of the Fifth New York regiment, very proniptl)- 
filled. The fighting now became general and assumed a formidable character. All of 
the Federal brigades displayed great bravery, returning every Confederate charge by 
another, but General Towers' brigade was the most conspicuous. For a time it seemed as 

if Pope would win the 
day, for Jackson's line 
was slowlj' giving way. 
Longstreet ninv as- 
sumed a commanding- 
position on Jackson's 
right, and as he had a 
large number of heavv 
guns he opened with a 
terrific discharge of 
shell and grape which 
tore the Federal ranks 
into tatters. To add to 
the horrors of the scene, 
Porter's men were sa- 
luted by missiles, that 
caused an unearthly 





THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



293 



fe^" isE ¥^i^\ 

'^' W Ki^ 




294 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



sound as they flew through the air, for one of Longstreet's batteries had been supplied 
with pieces of raih^oad iron. Coweriny under this hideous shower, for a few moments. 
Porter's division renewed the fighting. Then Reno passetl from the centre to the left, 
and stemmed the tide that was then beginning to turn, but the effort proved to be 
unavailing, for Lee now began moving forward on his whole line, and the Federals fell 
back in tolerably good order, keeping possession of the Warrenton Turnpike. Darkness 
put an end to the fighting, and that night Pope crossed Bull Run, and retreating by way 
of Stone Bridge, finally took position on the heights around Centreville, where McDowell 
had formed in 1861 for the first battle of Bull Run. 

In his report on the battle Lee says: "The enemy, being reinforced, renewed the 
attack on the afternoon of the 30th, when a general advance of both wings of the army 
was ordered, and after a fierce combat, which raged until after nine o'clock, he was 




completely defeated, and driven beyond Bull Run. The darkness of the night, his 
destruction of the Stone Bridge after crossing, and the uncertainty of the fords, stopped the 
pursuit." Pope's description was as follows : "The enemy's heavy reinforcements having 
reached hini on Friday afternoon and night, he began to mass on his right for the purpose 
of crushing our left, and occupying the road to Centreville in the rear. His heaviest 
assault was made about five o'clock in the forenoon, when, after overwhelming Fitz John 
Porter, and driving his forces back in the centre and left, mass after mass of his forces was 
pushed against our left. A terrible contest, with great slaughter, was carried on for 
several hours, our men behaving with firmness and gallantry, under the immediate command 
of General McDowell. When night closed, our left had been forced back about half a 
mile, but still remained firm and unshaken, while our rioht held its <--round." 

ropes retreat created consternation in Washington, because it led to a complete 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



295 



evacuation of the Virginia Valley. General Banks destroyed a large quantity of military 
material at Bristow Station and joined Pope, while Burnside retired from Fredericksburo- 
and Falmouth, burning bridges and the railroad. Acquia Creek was also abandoned, e\ery 
Federal corps and division hastening to Washington, then believed to be in instant danger 
of attack. The arrival of Banks, Franklin and Sumner brought Pope twenty-four thousand 
fresh trooi)s, so he was able to make a bold front with fifty-three thousand men. 

August 31 was Sunday, and Lee began a new movement. Jackson's and Ewell's 
divisions crossed Bull Run at Sudley Springs, and started for Little River Turnpike, with 
the intention of cutting round to Fairfax Court House and so gain Pope's rear. The aim 
of this movement was discovered by Pope in time for him to make a change of front. 
Hooker and Reno were thrown forward over the turnpike, towards Chantilly, the 
remainder of the divisions holding to the Warrenton Turnpike. On the morning of September 




2, Reno struck Jackson near Germantown, and. Hooker coming up rapidly, an engagement 
began, which raged furiously despite the heavy rain that was falling. Finally Jackson, who 
was determined to carry his point, concentrated on Reno, falling with tremendous power 
on General Stevens' brigade. Undismayed by the attack, General Stevens led his 
command on a charge, but was shot dead at the head of his men, who fell back in confusion. 
Kearney, Hooker and McDowell rushed to Reno's assistance, and repulsed Jackson with 
heavy loss. Just as the day was closing Kearney inadvertently passed through his picket 
line, and approached that of the Confederates. A volley was fired and the General 
fell dead from his saddle. Kearney and Lee had been personal friends before the war, 
therefore it was a gracious act when the latter sent the body of his antagonist to Pope's 
headquarters under flag of truce. 

Thus ended the three week's campaign, which began with so much flourish, for 
General Halleck ordered the Army of Virginia to retire within the defenses of Washington. 



296 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




llhNkV," A \\\ I I -kh 



Servant at Headquarters, Armv ov the Potomac. 



Pope's losses footed up thirty thousand men, thirty guns, twenty thousand small arms, 
and immense quantities of commissar)- supplies and war material. Lee's losses are 
estimated at fourteen thousand men, but he took more than that number of Federals as 
prisoners. The most painful incident of the entire campaign was the unjust condemnation 
of General Fitz John Porter. A scapegoat being wanted, Porter was selected, because he 
did not arrive on his appointed ground at the Battle of Gainesville as soon as Pope thought 
he should. There was another reason for disgracing Porter. Both Halleck and Pope 

disliked McClellan, and as Porter was believed 
to be his favorite, the unfortunate General 
was subsequently tried for alleged disobedience 
of orders and dilatory conduct. Being found 
guilty, despite his gallant service at Turner's 
Gap and Antietam, Porter was dismissed the 
service. It was not until General Grant became 
President that General Porter received the tardy 
justice of restoration to his rank in the army, 
and the barren honor of retirement as a Colonel 
without pay. This' treatment of Porter will for- 
ever be a blot on the escutcheon of Halleck. 
Had " Fitz," as his men in the old Regular 
Division loved to call him, escaped this cruel, 
crushing and entirely unmerited punishment, he 
would undoubtedly have carved a higher repu- 
tation for himself than the opportunity given 
him permitted. 




BELLE I'LAIN LANDING, 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



297 




CHAPTER XXIV. 

OPENING OF THE ANTIETAM CAMPAIGN. 

The situation of affairs was now a serious one for the Northern States. 
Hatteras Inlet, Port Royal and Roanoke 
Island expeditions had placed most of 
the Secession seacoast in the hands of 
the Federal Government, the National 
Capital, with all its archives, stood in 
danger. While the capture of New 
Orleans had opened the Lower Miss- 
issippi, and the armies of the West had 
control of its upper section, no one could 
disguise the fact that Lee could march 
direct for Washington with every chance 
of success. It was all very well to have 
the Crescent City, but what if the Con- 
federates captured Washington, Balti- 
more and Philadelphia ? That was the 
thought of every thoughtful man. No 
wonder that a momentary panic seized 
the public mind. 



Though the 




■ CORCORAN. — I 



298 



run MEMORIAL WAR ROOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



299 



(V'lieral Lee had orders from Jefferson I )a\is to 
carry the torch of war into Maryland and Penns) Ivania, 
for ifwas beUeved that the people of the former State 
would welcome tlie Confetierate Army and reinforce 
tlie ranks by willing enlistment. Though General 
Lee was well aware that a direct attack upon the 
National Capital was entirely feasible, he preferred to 
first cross the Potomac, and entering Maryland, get 
in rear of Washington. Moving from Leesburg his 
main body crossed the river and advanced to the 
City of Frederick, his line of camps occupying the 
banks of the beautiful and winding Monocacy River. 
By September 8 all of his divisions were up and Lee 
issued an address to the inhabitants. Under the 
mistaken idea that the announcement of his presence 
would bring thousands to his standard, the Confeder- 
ate General said : " The people of the Confederate 
States have long watched with the deepest sympathy, 
the wrongs and outrages that have been inflicted upon 
the citizens of a Commonwealth allied to the States 
of the South by the strongest social, political and commercial ties, and reduced to the 
condition of a conquered province. Under the pretense of supporting the Constitution 




GOVERNOR Ct' 




Fort Whipple.— Batieries in Nc 



300 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



but in violation of its most valuable provisions, your citizens have been arrested and 
i,„nrisoned. upon no charge, and contrary to all the forms of huv. The Govc-rnnK-nt o 
volir chief city has been usurped by armed strangers ; your legislature has be<.n dissolved 
bv the unlawful arrest of its members ; freedom of the; press and of sp.c'ch has been 
suppressed • words have been declared offenses by an arbitrary degree of the federal 
executive • and citizens ordered to be tried by military commissions for what they may dare 
to speak ' Believino- that the people of Maryland possess a spirit toe. lofty to submit to 
such a Government^, the people of the South have long wished to aid ) ou in throwing off 
this foreign yoke, to enable you again to enjo)- the inalienable rights of frrenun, and 
restore the independence and sovereignty of your State. In obedience to this wish, our 
army has come among vou, and is prepared to assist you with the power oi its arms in 




regaining the rights of which you have been so unjustly despoiled. This, citizens of 
Maryland, is our mission, so far as you are concerned. No restraint upon your free-will is 
intended, no intimidation will be allowed, within the limits of this army at least. 
Marj'landers shall once more enjoy their ancient freedom of thought and speech. We 
know no enemies among you, and will protect all of you in every opinion. It is for you to 
decide your destiny, freely and without restraint. This army will respect your choice, 
whatever it may be ; and while the Southern people will rejoice to welcome you to your 
natural position among them, they will only welcome vou when you come of )"our own 
free will." 

To Lees amazement the Marylanders made no response, either in men or supplies. 
On the contrary, many of the conscripted soldiers in his ranks deserted. But in 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



301 




Pennsylvania there was the wildest excitement. Every man capable of bearing arms 
prepared to do so. Business and manufacturing were suspended, church bells were rang as 
a summons for the people to meet and perfect some method of defense. On September 11, 
Governor Curtin called for fifty 
thousand men, and he telegraphed 
to the Mayor of Philadelphia in the 
following strain : "We have reliable 
information this evening that the 
Kebel generals have moved their 
entire army from Prederick to Cum- 
berland \'allcy, and their destination 
is now Harrisburg and Philadelphia. 
We need every available man imme- 
diately. Stir up your population 
to-night. Form them into companies, 
and send us twenty thousand to-mor- 
row. No time can be lost in massing 
a force on the Susquehanna to defend 
the State and your city. Arouse 
ever)- man possible, and send him 
here." 

.Spurred by this e.xample, the 
Governor of Maryland issued a similar 




THE .\r F.MORI A I. WAR BOOK. 




Chain Bridge, Puix-.mal. 



proclamation, and as nearly one hundred thousand men were mustering, the briyht hopes 
of the Confederates that they would be able to dictate a treaty of peace in old I ndependence 

Hall, began to fade away. 

General Halleck was compelled, by 
the exige'ncies of circumstances, to sum- 
mon General McClellan to the command 
of the consolidated Federal armies in 
the East. Much as he hated his prede- 
cessor in the chief command, the danger 
was too great, the necessity too pressino-. 
( )n September 2, as Pope's shattered 
columns fell behind the Alexandria 
fortifications. General McClellan was 
placed in command of all the troops in 
and around Washington. Tin- an- 
nouncement was hailed by the arm\- 
with enthusiasm, for no General on the 
I'ederal side obtainetl or exercised so 
strong a personal influence over his 
troops as did "Little Mac." Had this 
really excellent soldier learned less about 




HOTOMAC KIVER. 



THE .MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



303 




"V-^ 



ViKW ON THE Potomac. 



304 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



military engineering and had he a harder heart in his body, McClellan's name would 
undoubtedly have stood highest among American Generals on the page of histor\ . 

General Pope departed for the West, and General Lee started for Marylaml. The 
latter had only begun to cross the Potomac when IMcClellan put his troops in motion. P)y 
September 7, he had nearly ninety thousand on the march, and on tlie 1 jth they wen; in 
possession of all the Potomac fords below Berlin. The movements of the Arm\- of 
Northern X'irginia were so cleverly masked by Lee, and the; people of Maryland were in such 
a state of excitement and confusion, owing to the rapidity with which the Confc-derates 
stripped the country, McClellan found it difficult at first to ascertain where Lee had really 




gone to. By one of those lucky accidents which sometimes change the fate of Empires, 
one of the Federal scouts entered the farmhouse that had been used that morning by one 
of the Confederate division commanders. On the centre table of the farmer's pa^rlor lay a 
few newspapers, and the scout idly turned them over. Suddenly his eyes rested on 'an 
official order, issued by General Lee to his Corps and Division Generals. At a glance the 
scout saw that it revealed the entire Confederate scheme of oi^erations, and he rode so 
desperately to McClellan's headcjuarters at Damascus, Marvland, that his faithful steed 
dropped at the General's feet, and had to be mercifully shot. 

Lee's order disclosed the fact that he had abandoned all idea of invading Pennsylvania, 
but that he would cling to Maryland as long as possible. The countrN' through which the 
opposmg armies were manceuvering is one of the loveliest on the continent of North 
America. The valleys that lie on either side of the South Mountain Range are e.xtremely 
lertile, and. as the broad stretches of cultivated land are broken here and there by masses 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



305 



-fw- 




TIIF. MEMORIAL WAR P.OOK. 



of woodland, the scenery is cnchantinyly picturesque. So arc the valleys formrd by the 
Catoctin Range, and it was with deli.yht that Confederate antl l""ederal marched over the 
wide, smooth roatls. The early frosts had already touched the maples and beeches, 
thus painting the beautiful and everchanging landscape with colors too vi\ id for the 
palette of an artist. Across the upper Potomac, at Martinsburg, passed southward 
a steady of heavily laden wagons, and immense herds of cattle, all of which were to serve 
as supplies for Lee's men. Through the Shenandoah \'alley, beyond Cedar Mountain, 
went these Maryland spoils, for having failed to welcome Lee, the people of that State 
were made to feel the full ri'^ors of war. 




^, Hari-ek-s Ferr 



When Lee made his advance across the Potomac, there was a large Federal garrison 
in possession of Harper's F'erry. McClellan, being familiar with that section of the country, 
advised the evacuation of the Ferry, but Halleck declined to order it. General Wool had 
sent General D. S. Miles there during August with orders to fortify Maryland Heights, 
but for some unexplained reason Miles neglected to do so, except to put Colonel Thomas 
H. Ford in command of the Heights, but gave him no tools. Jackson's advance had 
compelled the Federal garrison at Martinsburg to fall back to Harper's Ferry, thus 
increasing Miles' strength to thirteen thousand men. On September 6, Jackson appeared 
in front of Bolivar Heights in full force. Walker had seized Loudon Heights and McLaws 
was attacking Maryland Heights. The latter compelled P'ord to spike his guns and 
retreat to the Ferry. By September 14, the place was completely invested and a furious 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



lo7 




cannonade was opened by the Confederates from their 

commanding positions. Knowing Miles' peril, 

McClellan wrote : " Hold on to the last extremity, 

and, if possible, reoccupy Maryland Heights with 

your whole force. The Catoctin Valley is in our 

possession, and you can safely cross the river at 

Berlin." 

But Miles was unequal to the task, for he sent 

away two thousand cavalry and hoisted a white flag in 

token of surrender. The signal had been flying for 

half an hour before it was perceived amid the cannon 

smoke, and General Miles was killed by the fragment 

of a shell, thus paying the forfeit of his life for his 

incapacity. General White, the ne.xt in command, 

with eleven thousand six hundred officers and men, 

were made prisoners. The spoils of the Confederates 

consisted of seventy-three cannon, thirteen thousand 

muskets, two hundred wagons and immense quantities 

of military stores and supplies. All of the prisoners 

were paroled and allowed to take their personal prop- genkk^l d. -. mill,., kULtu at haheks fekkv. 

erty. Among these troops were the Twenty-second, New York militia. The author of 

this Federal disgrace being dead, Halleck punished Colonel Ford by dismissing him from 

the service, though it now appears, that like Fitz John Porter, he did his duty. But 

Halleck was a schoolmaster and believed in using the birch. 

The condition of the two armies was about alike, for the Confederate troops were 

already beginning to feel the strain of insufficient supplies that they so heroically labored 

under during the remainder of the war. With them everything had to be sacrificed for 

arms and ammunition; food and clothing being the last consideration. No troops in the 

world went so lightly laden as were these soldiers of Northern Virginia. They carried no 

knapsacks, no overcoats, and not every man had a blanket. Many a charge was made on 

battlefields in hopes of capturing a Federal camp, or to pick up the knapsacks and blankets 

scattered over a field. In this 
respect the reorganized * Army 
of the Potomac was not a whit 
better off than their opponents 
The destruction of Pope's trains, 
and tb.e hot haste with which the 
several columns passed through 
Washington, gave no time for 
the issuance of shoes, socks or 
other necessaries. Men who had 
tramped through the Chicka 
hominy swamps, or raced down 
the \"irginia Valley, could get 
along with ragged blouses and 
vizorless caps, but broken shoes 
made it difficult to march. Mc- 
Clellan's men, however, forgot 
that their feet were bleeding, or 
that their trousers were hardly 




308 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



decent, when they heard the magic voice of " Little Mac." Only those who served under 
this remarkable anil much ill-used General can appreciate the Napoleonic inllucnct; cNcrcistcl 
by him over the men he led to battle. The writer has seen a corps linipinL^ aloni^^ a dusty 
and stony road, the men hungry, weary anil tlisconsolate, when won! cann- ll\ing along tJK; 
line from the rear, " Give ground to the right." Then a mighty cheer would rise and 
sweep forward as a cavalcade of horsemen rode rapidly to the front. The leading brigades 
knew then that the General was coming, and joined in the cheers as he passed. 

McClellan hail that rare faculty of being able to apparently address himself to every 
man within sound of his voice, and he was constantly finding occasion for saying 
something pleasant and encouraging. " The old V\{\\\ Corps is doing splendidh," said he 




the day before the battle of South Mountain; "Boys, I gave you the longest route 
becau.se 1 knew you could cover it best." Then as he galloped on, every pain was 
forgotten, every limping foot touched the ground with firmer tread; the praise of their 
General was so delicious to these footsore soldiers. "And how are the Zouaves this 
afternoon ?" asked " Little Mac," as he met the Fifth New York, one of his favorite 
regiments. "First rate. General," responded one of the men, " only we are living on 
supposition." "Supposition? Why, what do you mean by that ?" queried the General. 
" \V ell, you see, General," said the Zouave, "we were to have received our rations this 
morning, but we didn't get them, and now we are living on the supposition that we did." 
.McClellan laughed heartily, then turning to an aid gave an order in a low tone. An hour 
after ten wagons came thundering up the road and the brigade was duly victualled. On 
another occasion the General overtook a solitary cannon creeping over the road with only 
two horses, and both of them lame. Telling the Corporal in command to be of good 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



309 




IV 



Vr 







cheer, he wrote an order for fresh horses, and before nightfall the artillery-men were 
trotting- cheerfully over the road, to overtake their batter)'. In these deft touches on the 
hearts of his soldiers, McClellan was indeed unequalled. 

The disposition made by Lee of his several columns, as revealed in the captured order, 
showed that the Confederate leader intend- 
ed to defend the South Mountain passes, 
and so prevent McClellan getting into 
Pleasant Valley. Hut the Federal com- 
mander possessed the ke)" to his opponent's 
movements, and acted accordingly. The 
main body of the Army of the Potomac lay 
in and around the City of Frederick, when 
intelligence of the fall of Harper's F"erry 
came to McClellan. He at once recalled 
the column that was on its way to succor 
Miles, and concentrating his forces started 
for Turner's and Crampton's Passes. 
There was now no danger that Pennsyl- 
vania would be invaded, for Lee hail 
aliandoned the idea. It therefore remained 
to drive him out of the Passes ami across 
the upper Potomac. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Major-General A. Pleasonton. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



THK TWO HATTLES IN THE SOUTH MOIXTAIX CAPS. 



Early on the morning of Sunday, September 14, the two armies met half a mile from 
Middlctown, the contest being for the possession of a bridge spanning the Catoctin River. 
General D. H. Hill was in command of Turner's Gap, but owing to the heavy pressure 
made by Reno, he retired up the mountain, posting his men in strong force on all of the 
three roads that run through the wild and picturesque mountain gorge. General 
Pleasanton and his division of cavalry were in the Federal advance and came within 
striking distance of Hill's line on the afternoon of September 13, Init the\- had to wait for 
the infantry which arrived the following day. McClellan's disposition of his troops was 
as follows : General Burnside commanded the right wing, consisting of McDowell's First 
corps, led liy Reno. The left wing consisting of the Sixth Corps and Couch's division, 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



311 



and was commanded by General Franklin. The centre, under General Sumner, comprised 
the Second Corps and the Twelfth Corps, commanded by Mansfield — General Banks 
having been left in command at Washington. Porter's corps came up on the 14th having 
made a two days' forced march from the National Capitol. 

While F"ranklin passed round the Catoctin range and headed for Crampton's Gap, 
which is about six miles from Harper's Ferry, the remaining corps proceeded straight to 
Turner's Gap, by way of Boonsboro. Reno sent Cox's Division along the Southern road. 
As they reached the foot of the Pass, Simmon's and McMullen's batteries opened a brisk 
fire, under cover of which Sturgis, Wilcox and Rodman led their brigades up the 
mountain-side, encountering Garland's brigade of Hill's Corps. So determined was the 
Federal musketry that the Confederates were unable to stand before it, but they did not 
finally retire until General Garland was killed. As it was evident to Hill that he was 
facing McClellan's main force, he sent word to Longstreet, who had hurried up from 
Hagerstown, and assumed command, so that by 
noon the Confederates had thirty thousand men on 
both crests, and in the Gap. 

When Hooker moved on tne Confederate posi- 
tion, followed by Meade, he advanced along the 
Hagerstown road. The other commands went to the 
left of the Federal line. 

This disposition occup ed several hours, and it was 
not until four o'clock in the afternoon that the general 
engagement began. Viewed from the valley below, 
the battle was a picturesque and interesting one. 
Climbing up the steep sides of the mountain in a 
brigade line, the several Federal divisions were nearly 
half way up before Longstreet and Hill saluted them. 
The bright rays of the sun illumined the scene, and 
we could see the dark lines of Hooker's, Meade's and 
Reno's men steadily clambering up, only a few stray 
musket shots betraying the deadly character of the 
imposing movement. Suddenly a bright and almost 
blinding flash sprang from the crest of the towering 
range, and our ears were deafened by the fierce crash ,.,,^ ^^j, oarland, c.s. a, killed at sol-™ mountain. 
that followed it, as twenty thousand muskets opened 

fire on the advancing lines. The Confederate volley was returned, and the fighting that 
ensued was almost hand to hand. There was a slight breeze passing along the side of the 
niountain and it carried the musketry smoke with it in a heavy pencil-like cloud. As the 
two opposing lines opened fire, McClellan's batteries, that had been distributed along the 
line, at every advantageous position, began a furious discharge of shell which did 
considerable execution. The Confederate artillery replied, but their gunners could not 
sufficiently depress their pieces, consequently their fire was ineffective. 

For over an hour the musketry continued, a cloud of smoke rolling down into the 
valley, tinged here and there with broad bands of gold and rosy tints, as the descending 
sun began reddening the western horizon. Crash after crash came to our ears, followed 
by brief pauses of silence, then there would be a sullen muttering, as the lines changed 
positions, when again the air would be shaken by sudden roar of musket and cannon. Bit 
by bit, the Federals pressed forward, but they did not gain the crest until the sun had set 
and darkness began to creep over the mountain tops. As the shadows of the September 
evening descended on the scene, a vivid flash of light illumined the entire range, a faint 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




cheer c.iiiie to the ears of the reserve, tellinc^ 
them that the Battle of South Mouiitani 
was over. The desperate character of tlie 
Federal advance is shown 1)\' tlie fact that 
General Jesse L. Reno was killed, General 
Hatch, Lieutenant-Colonel Hayes, and Col- 
onel W. v. Wainwright being among the 
woundetl. The F"ederal loss was nint>t(-en 
hundred and sixty-eight, of which three 
hundred and twelve were killed. The 
Confederate loss was about si.xteen hundred 
|hM ,w "'''' ""' .^ killed and wounded, there being also nearl)- 

^^^ ^V / \^ ^^ ^^'^ m^^mm fifteen hundred men taken prisoners. 

While the battle was progressing at 
Turner's Gap, Franklin had entereil Cramp- 
ton's CJap, six miles away. He found 
himself opposed to General Howell Cobb, 
who was President Buchanan's .Secretary of 
the Treasury. When Franklin reached 
Barkittsville, he found the Confederates 
strongly [xisted behind loose stone wall 
defences, but he succeeded, after three or 
four hours of hard fighting, in gaining 
the crest and the; possession of the Pass. Cobb's retreat was so precipitate that he 
left behinil him three thousand muskets and two cannons, over three hundred of his 
www surrentlering with their three regimental standards. Had General Miles held 
out at the Ferry he could have been relieved by Franklin. The Federal loss at 
Crampton's Gap was one hundred and fifteen killed, four hundred and twenty wounded 
and missing. 

The following morning, McClellan moved up his reserves at Turner's Ciap, but the 
advance that bivouacked on the crest dis- 
covered at daylight that Hill and Long- 
street had retreated into the valley beyond. 
Orders were at once given for a vigorous 
pursuit, Franklin being directed to avoid 
Harper's lu-rry and march straight up 
I'lea.sant X'alley. B)' this manttuvre, 
Jackson was com[iel]ed to evacuate 
Harper's Ferry and fortl the Potomac 
near Charlestown, where John Brown had 
been hanged, and after a wide detour join 
Lee's army, then massing along the line 
of Antietam Creek. 

Desperate as had been the fighting 
in the mountain passes, it was insignificant 
compared with the battle that was to be 
fought between the opposing armies now 
rapidly assembling on ground that was 
to be forever historic. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



313 




Antieiam Bridge, Lo 



CHAPTER XXVl. 

THE DESPERATE BATTLE OX ANTIETA\r CREEK. 

There is no question that the diversion of so large a portion of his army for the 
of capturing the garrison and stores at Harper's 
Ferry, was really the cause of Lee's failure to carry 
out his purpose of invading Maryland. After the 
lapse of so many years, when all the facts are known, 
it is easy to see that in making so rich a capture Lee 
was dropping the meat for its shadow. But when 
it is remembered that he knew that his overthrow 
of Pope, at Manassas and Chantilly, had thrown the 
Federals into dire confusion, it will be readily conceded 
that he could not anticipate so vigorous a movement 
on their part in opposing his passage through the 
South Mountain Range. Neither did he know that 
McClellan had possession of the secret key to his 
proposed movements. But in war, as in everything 
else, there are many unknown chances, any one of 
which may overturn the best laid and most careful 
plans. Finding out his error when it was too late. 
General Lee, with characteristic courage, prepared 
for a decisive engagement. With this end in view, 
and while the Army of the Potomac was advancing 



jurpose 




.^'4 



rilli M F.MORI AI. WAR /'(H^K. 



throuijh Crampton'samrrurmT's ("..i|)s, durin.;- .Sci)trnil)cr 15, Lee willulanv liis column:, 
to thirvicinity of Sliarpshm-M, jiul waitrd for Jackson's arrival. 

The advance of the I'^cdcral Army was a brilliant si)eclaclc. As the troops descended 
the more -gentle slopes of the mountain on the Antietam si<lc, the mornin*^ sunlight was 
rellected by the muskets of the infantry, lluir res^imental colors llutlerinj^f gracefully in the 
cool autumnal breeze. On the left came i'lanklin's troops, thi-ir route layino- in shatlow. 
l-ookiui;- down from the crest, where Reno had so valiantly died, and the Confederates as 
iiravi'lv fought, the si^htof these Xow^ columns of troojjs was ihrilliiii; and inspiring-. l'"or 
miles in atlvance the flitter of steel could be discerned, while nt'arer ,it h.iiid a Ioul;- line of 
arlillerv covereil the -imuiuI, the Pass itself beiuLj still oeeupied li\- the rear -uard, and an 




endless train of supply wa^^ons, which after toilin;^- up the steep roads, where rows of new 
made graves attested the .severity of the previous d.i\'s batlU', went down at a luadlong, 
reckless pace. Hy nij^htfall the entire command had reached Pleasant X'alley 

Lee's position was well chosen. He found a rollino- crest alon^- the western margin 
of .Antietam Creek, with masses of out-cropping rock as it ai»proached the rolomac. He 
thus had the creek on his front, the Potomac in his rear. Hut he was now acting on the 
defensive. Jackson, with his customary rapidity, joined Lee in time ft)r the approaching 
battle, for McClellan did not advance imtil the 16th, though he had laid out his plans. 
This was a grievous error, as it gave Lee time to gather up all his troops and establish a 
formidaI)le line. General Walker, with two brigades, held the extreme right at Shaveley's 
Farm, Longstreet came next, 1). H. Hill being on his left with Hood holding the left 
tlank. Jackson was behind Hood, in reserve, protected by " |eb" .Stuart's cavalry. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



315 




3i6 



I'HR MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




When 
Sumner and 
behiiul I loi 



the 



I ""ed era Is 
rtcr in the 
in n 'Serve 



drew nc 

centre, 

, hut l'>; 




U. STUART, C. 



■ar the creek, Hooker took ground on the right, with 
ISurnside being on the extreme left. Mansfield stood 
inklin had not yet come up. Crossing Antietam Creek 
were three small stone bridges. Hooker, Mansfield 
and Sumner commaucled o\u\ I'orter another, and 
Ijurnsiile a third. The latter was to prove historic. 
General McClellan's plan was to attack Lee's left, 
whirli lay on and beyond the Hagerstown Road. He 
hoped, 1)\- turning the Confederate's flank, to double 
it up, and then 1)\" mo\'ing on his centre and right, 
drixc Lee into the Potomac River. Late in the 
afternoon (n-neral Hooker with Meade's, Double- 
da\'s and Rickett's division, crossed over the bridge 
in front of him, meeting very little opposition. Mans- 
Tiekl was ordered to cross during the night, anil (.lid 
so, while Sumner was to follow at tlaybrctak. 

When Sumner began mo\ing, he was two miles 
behind ALansfield, and the latter was a mile from 
Hooker's bivouac lini;. With his customary impetu- 
osity I looker fired at dawn, the Pennsylvania Reserves, 
under iNIeatle, being the first to go into action. Durine 
the night Jackson had discovered the scope of the 
Federal movement, and at once posted himself on 
Lee's left, taking position along some ledges of lime- 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



317 




Antietam Br 



315 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




stone that cropped all around what is known as the Dunker Church. Hooker's advance 
was supported by numerous batteries on the other side of the creek, the combined 
artillery and musketry fire cutting up Jackson's brigades, so that they were compelled to 
fall back to their reserves beyond the church. Scarcely had this taken place when 

Jackson re-formed his 
line, and fell with furi- 
ous rage upon Hooker. 
The combat that ensued 
was of the most awful 
description, for the men 
loailed and discharged 
tlu-ir muskets at less 
than one hundred yards 
range, the carnage being 
terrific. There stood 
the two lines, neither 
giving wa\', but each 
withering under the 
deadly storm of bullets. 
Finally Hooker asked 
Doubleday for assist- 
ance, when Hartsuff's 




SIGNAL STATION 



MOUNTAIN. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



319 




BuRNSiDK Bridge. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




brigade was sent liim. In half an hour Hartsuff fell, se\-ereh- wounded, and his brigade 
was cut to pieces, for he tried to cross a wide cornfield in order to reach Hooker. Then 
the First Texas and the Fourth Alabama made a heroic charge upon Doubleday's guns, 
but were driven back after a desperate hand-to-hand fight. 

On hearing Hooker's guns, Mansfield had pushed rapidly up the Hagerstown road, 

reaching the scene of conflict 
sobn after seven o'clock, and the 
divisions of Williams and Green 
began deploying. Then L). H. 
Hill's division emerged from the 
woods beside the Dunker Church, 
and drove Mansfield back, the 
old General being killed while 
trying to stem the tide of battle. 
General W illiams now assumed 
command, and joining Hooker, a 
combined effort was made to take 
the key to Jackson's position, a 
wood)- eK\ation to the right of 
the church. Crawford's and Gor- 
don's lirigades dashed forward 
and secured it, the men being 
animated by the presence of 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




322 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Hooker, who by the reckless exposure 
of his body, here earned the title of 
" I'ightiny; Joe." The dencral was 
sometimes on foot, and he personally 
directed every movement. |iist as 
Gordon and Crawford were rushing 
tiirward a Inillct struck Honker in the 
foot, the niissile passing clean through, 
and he was carried off the field. 

General Sumner hail now arrived 
antl assumed command of that part 
of the line. Seeing the perilous 
position of Crawford and Gordon^ 
who were holding their ground against 
heavy odds, Sumner ordered in hrench, 
Sedgwick and Richardson about nine 
o'clock. McLaws and Walker now 
,1 Ni KAi H....KEKS H K A I » . ■ A .-TE Ks lUKiNc. Ti.E BATTLE. jolued Jacksou, SO that the uialtt battle 

surged around the Dunker Cliurch. The Confederates held to their limestone ledges, and 
mowed down the I""etlerals as they advanced. General Sedgwick received three 
wounds and had to retire. Crawford met the same fate. Hooker's corps had been 
sliallcred, and its annnunition was exhausted; Mansfield's corps had also suffered terribh-, 
while Svminer saw his own men falling in every direction. He knew that Jackson must 
have suffert-il lica\ ily, for the ground had as many dead Confederates stretched upon it as 
there were Federals, so he sent McClellan word that he could hold his position, but 
needed reinforcements for a forward movement. 





Bodies of Dead Confederate Soldiers near Shbrkick's House. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



323 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




General Franklin arrived about noon, and was at once sent to Sumner's support. 
Smith's and Slocum's divisions were in the advance. Their artillery opened and the 
columns swept on, Irwin's brigade forcing the Confederates beyond the road. In this final 
charge, the Vermont and Maine regiments fought with remarkable courage. But the battle 
had cost many lives. From the time Hooker first began the fight around the Dunker 
Church, until Smith's division closed the struggle, there had been no less than four charges 

and countercharges. Flach 
army had taken and re- 
taken the ground until it 
was literally carpeted with 
(lead and dying men. 
Writing of the battle, 
General "Stonewall" Jack- 
son says : " The carnage 
on both sides was terrific. 
At an early hour. General 
Starke, commanding the 
Stonewall division, was 
killed ; Colonel Douglas, 
commanding Law to n 's 
brigade, was also kdled. 
General Lawton, com- 
manding division, and 




CRAVES OF FEDERAL SOLDIERS AT BURNSIDE BRIDGE. 



THE MEJIWRIAL WAR BOOK. 




Bodies of Dead Co 



.FEDERATE SOLDIHRS ALONGSIDE FenCE ON HaGERSTOWN RoaD. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Colonrl Walker, <()niman(lin<; britrade, were severely 
wounded. More than half the hrigatles of l.awton 
and Hays were cither killed or wounded, and more 
than a third of Trimble's. All the rcL^iiiiental com- 
manders in those briyatles, e.xcept two, were either 
killed or wounded. Thinned in their ranks, and their 
ammunition exhausted, I had to withdraw them, and 
1 lootl's division of Lon^streel's command, took tluir 
place." 

On Sumner's left, l-'rench's and Richardson's div- 
ision began fiohtin<,r 1). II. 11 ill, who was holdinLi' 
Jackson's right. The I""ederal brigades of Meagher, 
Weber, Caldwell, Morris, Brooks and Kimball, did 
the fighting, while General Anderson had reinforced 
I nil with two brigatles. Pushing back the Confed- 
erates to the l'i[n'r house on the .Sharpsburg road, 
General Richardson was wounded by a cannon ball, 
, -KK vL i,A«-roN, c. s. A. ^^ Hancock, going to the head of the division, pressed 

forward. Tlu'n General Meagher was wounded, darkness fell antl the right wing of 
McClellan's army rested. 

During the movement on Jackson, the corps under I'orter, which occupied the centre 
of the Federal line, had been active. The Regular division, under Sykes cro.ssed the middle 
stone briilge and silenced the Confederate .sharpshooters, who were picking off Pleasanton's 
gunners, his horse battt-ries having greatly annoyed that part of Lee's line. Then Warren 
went to the left, and supported Burnside's right. The Iuto of Roanoke Islanil had four 
divisions under him, thost? of Cox, Rodman, Sturgis and Wilco.x. He received orders at 
eight o'clock, just about the time old General Mansfield was killed at the church, to force 
the bridge in front of him, seize the height beyond, and push the Confederates back upon 
Sharpsburg. I\)r some reason that has never been clearly explained, Burnside did not 
make any decided moxc until after one o'clock in the afternoon, despite the urgent 
conmianils of McClellan, who finalh' sent his aide,Colonel Sackett, to see that Burnside obe)- 
ed. By this time A. P. Hill, who, fol- 
lowing Jackson from Harper's Ferry, had 
arrived, and assumed Lee's right, which 
had been weakened to meet the onslaught 
on the Confetlerate left. Had Burn- 
sitle moved two hoiu's earlier, he would 
have found Longstreet with only two 
thousand men ; now he had to face fresh 
troops. The Federal charge on the 
stone bridge was a gallant effort, and 
three times did the men take the bridge 
and twice were they driven back. Finally 
the height, was taken and several pieces 
of Confederate artillery were captured, 
when suddenly the division of A. P. Hill 
rushed in and turned Burnside's left 
flank. Stubbornly trying to hold' their 
new position, Burnside's men were finally 
forced oack until they reached the bridge, 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



327 








View in the Fielu where Sumner Ciiakgeu. and in the Ditch on the Right, Showing Many Dead Con 



THE MIUrORlAI. WAR BOOK. 




where, beinor protected by their batteries, tney stood fast. During this part of the 

engagement, the Federal General, Rodman, and 
the Confederate General, L. O'B. Branch were 
killed. 

Thus ended the Battle of Antietam. It cost 
Lee over fourteen thousand men, three thousand 
being killed. McClellan had two thousand and 
ten killed, nine thousand four hundred and sixteen 
wounded, with one thousand and forty-three missintr, 
a total of twelve thousand, four hundred and sixty- 
nine. Lee had lost by battle and desertion of 
conscripted men, fully thirty-tive thousand since 
crossing the Potomac River. His campaign of 
mvasion had ended disastrously, for, on striking 
the balance, his losses had far exceeded those 
inflicted on the Federals. 

The blow to the Confederate cause was a severe 
one, but the people of the Southern States were not 
subdued. On the contrary, the more they were 
defeated, the more desperately did they fight for 
supremacy and an independent form of Government. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



329 











Jl^^:^^^2S>%igE£ 



Confederate Woundeu at Smith's Bakn ; Dk. Hurd, mth Indiana, in Attendanc 



530 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE AfEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



331 




CHAPTER XXYII. 



LEES RETREAT AND MCCLELLAN S RETIREMENT. 



There has been a great deal of criticism of McClellan's conduct before, during and 
after the battle of Antietam. He has been blamed for not forcing a general engagement 
on September 18, because it was subsequently ascertained that Lee was in nu condition to 
meet a determined attack. The fact was recalled that just before sunset of the 17th, 
McClellan received fourteen thousand fresh men, under Generals Humphrey and Couch, 
which might have been advantageously used in heading the pursuit. It was also remembered 
that McClellan had eighty-seven thousand men, while Lee would not muster at one time, 
more than forty-five thousand. In the light of later information, concerning the shattered 
condition of the Army of Northern Virginia, the government and the people of the North 
forgot the delight caused by McClellan's official announcement " That no less than thirteen 
guns, thirty-nine colors, upwards of fifteen thousand stand of small arms, and more than six 
thousand prisoners are the trophies which attest the success of our arms in the battles of 
South Mountain, Crampton's Gap and Antietam ; not a single gun or color was lost by 
our army during these battles." 

The Comte de Paris, who served on General McClellan's personal staff, thus writes 
concerning Antietam: " The issue of the contest, however, would probably have been 
different if A. P. Hill, instead of arriving at three o'clock in the afternoon, had been able 
to take part in the struggle early in the morning, and add his efforts to those which kept 



33^ 



THE MEAfORIAL WAR BOOK. 



the Federal risfht so long in check. There were however, many other causes which 
prevented McClellan from achieving a more complete victory, and taking advantage of the 
opportunity to strike an irreparable blow at Lee. The first is lo be found in the moral 
condition of his troops. The army which had been entrusted to him was partly composed 
of the vancpiisiied soldiers of Manassas, and the remainder consisted of soldiers who had 
l)een only one or two weeks in the service, who had never marched, never been under fire, 
ami knew neitiier their commander, nor their comnules. They fouglit with great bravery; 
but thry could not be expected lo perform what Lee easil\- obtainctl from his men. Their 

ranks hail not that coiicsion which 
enables a commander to follow up 
a first success without interruption. 
The Ihiion geiK-rals ma)' be censured 
for having dixidcd their efforts on 
the right in successive attacks, and 
thereby impaired their effectiveness. 
The corps of Hooker, Mansfield and 
Sumner — in all from forty to forty- 
four thousand men — instead of being 
brought into action one after tlie 
other for the space of four hour.s, 
might have been united so as together 
to strike the Confederate left, which 



MAJOR ALLEN PINKEKTON AT M-IlKIT sHinli K 
QUARTEKS, OCTOBEK, 1862. 

they would, no doubt, have 
crushed. Hurnside, by his 
long inaction also upset Mc- 
Clellan's plans, enabled Lee 
to mass all his forces on his 
left, and thus deprived the 
Federals of the principal 
advantages which a more 
energetic action on his 
part would certainly have 

secured." <.ROUr at SF^RtT Stl,W._F .IHAI^.. >K.FKS A,M. U.MA., UCTOBER, iSbJ. 

General McClellan consulted with his corps commanders as to the advisability of 
renewing the attack on the; iSth, or to defer it. Franklin ami others urged an immediate 
forward movement, while Sumner, who had displayed great personal courage during that 
day, strenuously opposed the suggestion. The whole of the iSth was therefore devoted to 
burying the dead and caring for the wounded, .seven thou.santl Confederates being among 
the latter. The army was reorganized, revictualled and duly supplied with ammunition. 
At dawn of September 19, General Pkasanton's ca\alr\- columns advanced o\er the 
several roads, and in an hour news came to McClellan that the Confetlerate Arm)- had 
dis.sappeared. Lee had imitated McClellan's move at Malvern Hill, and, taking advantage 
of the Federal halt, had escaped across the Potomac by the Shepherelstown bord, carrying 
with him not only his entire army, but vast quantities of supplies that had been gathered 





THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



333 



up in Maryland by his active raiders. Lee had twenty hours' start, and he went over the 
river and passed into the Shenandoah Valley, bag- and baggage, leaving General Pendleton 
with forty pieces of artillery on the river bank to check pursuit. Porter's corps followed, 
captured four of the guns, but fell afoul of A. P. Hill's division, which forced the F"ederals 
to recross the river. 

During September 21, Lee marched along the line of the Potomac as far as 
Martinsburg, destroying the track and bridges of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The 
ne.vt day one of his divisions recrossed the Potomac, but was driven back by Couch. 
During the following two or three days Maryland Heights and Harper's Ferry were 
reoccupied by the Federals and the bridges reconstructed. On October i. President 
Lincoln visited McClellan* and urged a forward movement, remarking that the General 




had then one himdred antl tifty thousand men under his immediate command. Lee was 
at that time near Winchester, in a very sad condition. McClellan promised to move, but 
not doing so General Halleck telegraphed under date of October 6, the following brief 
order : " The President directs that you cross the Potomac, and give battle to the enemy, 
or drive him South. Your army must move now, while the roads are good." 

Four days after receiving this order, McClellan learned that the Confederate cavalry 
general, "Jeb" Stuart had made a complete circuit of the Federal Army lines. He 
penetrated into Pennsylvania as far as Chambersburg, where he found an immense 
quantity of supplies, railroad trains, machine shops and other property, all of which he 
destroyed by fire. "Jeb" then crossed the Potomac below McClellan, and escaped byway 
of Leesburg, into the Loudon Valley, through Aldie Gap. Amid the indignation at 
Stuart's daring and really wonderfully successful raid, Halleck telegraphed on October 21, 

*See illustration Page 23. 



334 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




as follows : •■Thr l'r,-si<l,Mil docs not exi)ect impossibilities, l.ut he is very anxious that 
all this oood weather should not be wasted in inactivity." Finally, ooaded into action 
General McCIellan crossed the Potomac by the lowe.- fords on November 2, Lee's advance 
having- reached Culpepper. 

( )ii November 7, General Buckingham arrived at McClellan's headquarters and 

handed him an order from the 
War Department, relieved him 
of his command, and transfer- 
riiiL;- it to General Burnside. 
The next day "Little Mac" 
issued his parting- atUlri'ss to 
the ami)- he had twice reorgan- 
ized. " In parting from you, I 
cannot ex|)ress the lo\e and 
gratilude 1 bear you," said he, 
" As an arm\- )()u have grown 
up in ni)- care. In )()u 1 have 
ne\ er found tloubt or coklness. 
The battles )ou have fought 
under my command will prob- 
ably li\(- in our nation's histor)-. 
1 he gle)r\- you ha\e achieved 
over nuilual j >erils and fatigues • 




PONTOON UKIDGR 



> RUINS OP STONB 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



335 




the crraves of our comrades fallen in battle and by disease ; the broken forms of those 
whom wounds and sickness have disabled— the strongest associations which can exist 
among men unite us by an indissoluble tie." 

Never before or ever after was such a scene witnessed in any army as the one enacted 
by the Federal soldiers of 
the Potomac, when General 
McClellan personally took 
leave of his officers and men, 
before finally retiring fnjm 
the field of active duty. 
Those who had read the life 
of Napoleon Bonaparte were 
reminded of the leave-taking 
at Fountainebleu. At the 
head of his brilliant staff, 
and seated on a magnificent 
steed, the General rode rap- 
idly along the lines. Lifting 
his cap to the regimental 
colors as they fell in salute 
to him, his eye kindled and 
his smile had the same old 
magnetism. Whole regi- 




SHARPSBURG, 



336 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




iii<.:nls clropprd their muskets from the position of salute, to cheer their General, none of the 
Colonels seeking to control the enthusiasm of their men, or compel the decorum of 
discipline. Many were mo\ ed to tears, and General McClellan was himself shaken by 
emotion on seeing it displayed by his soldiers. On Tuesday, November lo, the General 
rode to Warrenton, where a train awaited him. An artillery salute was gi\en him at the 
Junction, and as he stood on the rear platform, he said to the soldiers gathered around him: 
" Boys, I want you to stand by General Burnside as you have stood by me. Good bye." 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



337 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



(iPKRATIOXS IX TllK SOUTIIWKST. 

The campaigns of invasion made by McClellan and Lee against Richmond and 
Washington, in 1S62, had the effect of dwarfing the coincident movements in the South- 
west. The peril in which the cities of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington were 
placed by the Confederate advance across the upper Potomac concentrated the attention 
of the Federal Government and the people of the North, but the operations beyond the 
Tennessee and Missouri rivers had an equally important bearing in the general scope of 
hostile demonstrations. The assignment of Halleck to the chief command of the Federal 
armies again gave Grant command of the Army of the Tennessee. Buell was near Chatta- 
nooga, facing Bragg, who was threatening Louisville. Rosecranz had command of 
Pope's troops, now called the Army of the Mississippi, and occupied Alabama and 
Northern Mississippi. Grant's line e.xtended from Memphis to Bridgeport, Tennessee, 
along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. On his immediate front stood Van Dorn 
and Price, with a hea\'y force. Tliese Confederate generals aimed at recovering Corinth, 
which they rightly considered the military key to Tennessee. 

On September i, 1S62, Price advanced to Jacinto with twelve thousand men. Rose- 
cranz had removed from Tuscumbia to luka, thence toward Corinth. Price captured Tus- 
cumbia and luka, finding a large quantity of stores, which the F'ederal commander. Colonel 
R. C. Murpliy, neglected to destroy. General Grant saw that Price hoped to occupy his 
attention while Van Dorn struck his flank and turned it. But Grant decided to make a 
rapid dash upon Price at luka, beat him, and get back to Corinth in time to meet 
Van Dorn. 

Grant and Rosecranz began moving on September 18, and on the following day en- 
countered the Confederate outposts. The ground wasver\- difficult, being cut up by ravines 
and tangled thickets. Hamilton's division began the attack, and desperate fighting ensued. 
The Eleventh Ohio Battery's 
guns were lost and retaken 
three times. Colonel Eddy 
fell mortally wounded, and hi-. 
regiment was thrown into dis- 
order, the entire battery being 
captured, with nearl)' all oi 
its officers and men killed or 
wounded. Then Stanley's di- 
vision went in, led by the Elev- » li1^^J5fcJOHi_^i^BKJAZr""''^KS^B '>"i 
enth Missouri, and the Con- 
federates were driven into the 
ravine. The next morning- 
Price had disappeared. The 
P'ederal loss at luka was seven 
hundred and thirty killed and 
wounded, and the Confederates 
lost nine hundred men. General 
Little being among their dead. 




i3> 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



When General Beauregard retreated from Shiloh to Corinth in April he constructed 
extensive fortifications. During the summer of 1862 Cieneral Halleck had so scattered his 
troops in a series of disconnected operations, Grant found that the Heaure.Qard intrench- 
ments were entirely beyond the capacity of his army. An inner line was therefore erected, 
and it was finished during the month of September. 

On October 3 the advance of Van Dorn's army arrived under General Mansfield 
I „\cll rushing up the Chevvalla road, Lovell attacked with such impetuosity that part 
of Rosecranz's fine was driven back. A desperate struggle followed, during which the 
Federals lost heavily. General Hackelman being among their killed, and General Oglesby 
severely wounded. When night put an end to the battle Van Dorn had arrived with his 
entire army of forty thousand men, and as the Federals had fallen back from the Beaure- 



BytMajGen, ABaiRD. 




BvtMaj Gem, D.S.Stan LEY. 



gard intrenchments to those designed by Grant, the Confederate commander believed that 
he had Rosecranz in his grasp. 

Having thrown up several batteries within one thousand yards of the F"ederal lines, 
the Confederates opened fire the following morning, receiving a quick response. The ter- 
ritory around Corinth consists of low hills interspersed \\\\\\ swamps, only a few open 
fields here and there giving opportunity for the deployment of troop.s. The F^ederal line 
was protected on the right by Battery Williams, and on the left by Battery Robinette, a 
new fort called Fort Richardson having been completed in the centre during the previous 
night, Battery Powell being to its right. As soon as Van Dorn's guns opened fire their 
shells fell in the streets of the town, causing- much confusion amone the residents. Then 
Captain Williams opened with twenty-inch Parrott guns, silencing the Confederate bat- 
teries. 

Under cover of the cannonading, Lovell had moved round to Rosecranz's left, while 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



339 



Price massed his strong divisions on the centre. At nine o'clock Price advanced along the 
Bolivar road and charged upon Battery Powell, when General Jefferson C. Davis opened 
fire. The road over which Price's men were pressing forward in solid columns was swept 
by a cross fire of artillery, causing great havoc, but the Confederates pushed on. Then the 
Federal guns used grape and canister with deadly effect, yet the charging columns moved 
up and Davis' men became temporarily panic-stricken. Price then seized Battery Powell, 
and actually penetrated to the heart of the town, capturing Rosecranz's headquarters. 
As the Confederates were carrying everything before them Rosecranz appeared, and by 
his example restored order. A section of Jumel's battery now galloped forward and de- 
livered three or four rounds of grape and canister at the distance of a dozen yards. One 
hundred men fell before this terrible discharge, and the Confederate line was shaken. Be- 




fore they could recover, the Fifth Minnesota and Tenth Ohio opened a deadly musketry 
fire. This incident was closed by a magnificent charge by the Fifty-sixth Illinois, which 
recaptured Battery Powell. Hamilton's battery now went into action, and the streets of 
Corinth were cleared of Confederates, except those who were dead or wounded. So 
complete was the repulse that Price could not restrain his men until they had reached the 
woods. 

Rosecranz's success upset Van Dorn's plans, for, having undertaken to conduct the 
attack on the Federal left, he was not aware of Price's defeat until it was too late. Van 
Dorn formed Lovell's corps into four columns and placed his artillery at convenient points 
to cover their advance against Forts Williams and Robinette. As the infantry appeared 
the Federal guns opened with a murderous discharge of shell, followed by grape. The 



34° 



THE .MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



bravery of the Confederates was unequalled. Facino- a deadly storm of shell, ci'rapc, anil 
bullet, which mowed them down by section and coni[)any, these Soulhcrn soldiers ran up 
almost to the muzzles of the cannon. The front line got within one hundred and twenty 
feet of Fort Robinette, when the Ohio Brioade delivered a tremendous volley. The ad- 
vancini^ lines withered under this shower of lead and fell back to the woods. Reforming, 
the Confederates made a second effort, their momentum being sufficient to carry the front 
rank up to the parapet. 

This charge was a most gallant effort, and stands as a rare example of human courage. 
Colonel Rogers, of the Second Texas, led the column, and scaled the breastwork, falling in- 
side. The Twenty-seventh Ohio and Eleventh Missouri went to the rescue of the Federal 
gunners, and again drove back the Confederate line. 

General Grant had ordered General McPherson to join Rosecranz, and he reached Cor- 
inth as the Federals were repulsing \'an Horn at Fort Robinette. His presence led to a 




Confederate retreat. Ortl and Hurlburt were also coming up, and encountered \ an Dorn 
as he was crossing the Hatchie River, ten miles from Corinth, but, being too weak, were 
compelled to withdraw. General Ord being wounded during a brief engagement. Rose- 
cranz began a pursuit, but Grant ordered him back. The Federal loss at this battle of 
Corinth was three hundred and fifteen men killed, eighteen hundred and twelve wounded, 
and two hundred and thirty-two missing. The Confederate loss in killed was one thousand 
four hundred and twenty-four officers and men. Their wounded e.xceeded the thousand, 
and they lost two thousand two hundred and si.xty-eight as prisoners. 

General Buell had been ordered to take the Army of the Ohio and move on Chatta- 
nooga, the possession of which would shut the Confederates out from Kentucky. Buell 
began his march on June 1 1, and as General Morgan had seized Cumberland Gap, the route 
was open. But Buell moved so slowly that General Bragg reached Chattanooga first, on July 
28, the Federal advance being twenty-five miles away, on Battle Creek. Bragg had fifty 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



341 



thousand men, in three corps, under Polk, Hardee, and Kirby Smith, the latter bein^ at 
Knoxville. Bragg's northward movement compelled Buell to fall back to Nashville, finally 
moving to Louisville, but did not arrive there until September 25. It had taken Brao-o- six 
weeks to cover the distance between Chattanooga and Frankfort. Buell's arrival at Louis- 
ville gave him fresh reinforcements, and he had fully one hundred thousand men. Then 
an order came from Washington transferring the command to General George H. Thomas, 
but at his earnest solicitation Buell was retained. General Thomas was really one of the 
best of the Federal commanders. Once he assumed a position, he held to it with dogged 
pertinacity, for he never seemed to know when he was beaten. He always carried out a 
plan intrusted to him with rare faithfulness, yet with a sound judgment which enabled 



Brig Gem, 5,W.MoRGAN, 




Brig Gen. 
W.P. Carlin 



him to take advantage of any favorable change in the situation. His soldiers obeyed him 
because they trusted implicitly to his sagacity ami coolness. 

Bragg w^as meanwhile stripping Kentucky of supplies. It was said at the time that 
his wagon trains were forty miles long, but this was one of the current exago-erations. 

Buell then assumed the offensive, and began his pursuit on October i. Dividing his 
immense army into three grand corps, he moved on Bardstown. General Crittendon had 
the right wing, accompanied by Thomas as second in command to Buell, and went to 
Shepherdsville. The left wing, under McCook, approached Frankfort, while the centre, 
under Gilbert, moved over the Mount W'ashington road. Bragg having crossed the 
Kentucky River, the two armies manoeuvred for nearly a week, when the Confederate 
general concentrated his forces at Perryville. Bragg's army consisted of five corps, 
Hardee having two, the others being under Buckner, Cheatham, and Anderson, all three 



342 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 





being commanded by Polk, the ex-bishop. Kirby 
Smith was far in tlie rear with the accumulated sup- 
plies. 

Fighting began during the afternoon of October 7, 
and was resumed at dawn the following morning. 
The brunt of the l)attle fell on General McCook's 
corps, who stood souk; three miles from Perryville. 
He had onl\' Rousseau's and Jackson's divisions. 
Posting a batter)- with adecjuate infantry supports, 
McCook k-ft Generals Jackson and Terrill to hold 
the line and proceeded to his right, which tirmly 
rested on Gilbert's left. 

Thirty minutes after. General Cheatham's division 
fell upon Terrill, who held the extreme left, and a 
most desperate engagement followed. General Ter- 
rill fell mortally wounded, dying before sunset, and 
General Jackson was instantly killed by a fragment of 
a shell. The loss of their generals completely demor- 
BRic.-cRN.i.. A. HACKKLMAN, KILLED AT. lATTLE or CORINTH, allzed thc Pedcrals, 2i\\A thcy fled in shameful confu- 
sion. Then the Confederates, having driven back 
McCook's left, struck Rousseau's division with tremendous force. Bush's and Stone's 
batteries, gallantly supported b)' Starkweather's brigade, held Cheatham in check for nearly 
three hours, but had finally to withdraw. 

General Bragg led the Confederate assault in person, believing that he had his antago- 
nist on the hip. But the Confederate commander was now to meet a Federal officer who 
was subsequently to rise to high command. Brigadier-General Philip H. Sheridan occu- 
pied Gilbert's left with his brigade, and when Rousseau's men broke he discovered that 
he had suddenly become the extreme left of Buell's line. Knowing that he held the key 
to the Federal position, Sheridan decided to retain it as long as he had a shell left. Turn- 
ing his batteries on the advancing Confederates, Sheridan checked them, and throwing 
forward his line, opened a terrific musketry fire. By this he held his position intact until 
Carlin's brigade arrived and strengthened him. Finding himself reinforced, Sheridan 
ordered a charge. Sheridan's counter-attack was a surprise, and the Confederates were 
compelled to fall back. Sheridan saw his advantage, and he drove the Confederates clear 
through Perryville, capturing eighteen or twenty wagons of ammunition and supplies, some 
artillery caissons, and several hundred men. 

General Buell only learned the severe character of the engagement when it was over, 
but he sent one of Crittenden's divisions to McCook's support. Then night ended the 
battle. Buell made preparations for renewing the engagement at daylight, only to find 
that Bragg had disappeared. 

Hastening through Cumberland Gap with his entire army, the Confederate com- 
mander did not pause until he reached Chattanooga. This retreat surprised the North 
and the South, liragg's excuse being that he wished to save the supplies he had gathered 
in Kentucky. 

Bragg's retreat gave Buell a chance to redeem himself, but his pursuit was tame, so 
Bragg went off with his Kentucky supplies. General Thomas was ordered by Buell to 
take route for Nashville, while he returned to Louisville. Then came another change in 
commanders. Rosecranz succeeded Buell, the name of the command being changed to 
that of the Army of the Cumberland. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



343 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



THE r.ATTLE OF MUKFREESBORU , (JR STONE RIVER. 



General Rosecranz had now achieved the height of his ambition, an independent 
command, and the hero of luka and Corinth began at once to prepare for a vioorous cam- 
paign. He put his army in good fighting trim in the short space of a week, and rebuilt 
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, establishing his headquarters at Nashville. General 
Bragg was well informed regarding Rosecranz's operations, but supposed the Federals were 
going into winter cjuarters. Bragg therefore put his men into huts at Murfreesboro', and 
sent Wheeler's cavalry into Western Tennessee, where Grant was operating against \'icks- 
burg, another cavalry column crossing into Kentucky on an extensive raid. 

Permitting his troops to enjoy Christmas Day in camp, Rosecranz put them in motion 
on the following morning. Despite a cold rain, the Army of the Cumberland moved 
with such celerity that the Confederates could not destroy the bridges, and the Federals 
advanced to the line of .Stone River where it enters the Cumberland just above Nashville. 

Rosecranz had, on December 30, forty-three thousand men on the ground. He 
placed AlcCook on his right, with Davis, Johnson, and Sheridan as division commanders. 
General Thomas held the centre with Rousseau's and Negley's divisions, while Critten- 
den occupied the left with Palmer's, Van Cleve's, and Wood's divisions. The left flank of 
the Federal army rested on the river, the right extending beyond the Franklin road. 

General Bragg's army was sixty-two thousand strong. He put the four divisions of 
Cleburne, Cheatham, McCown, and Withers on the west side of Stone River, with 
Breckinridge's division on the eastern side to protect Murfreesboro'. 

Both Bragg and Rosecranz meditated attack. The Confederate commander intended 
to swing round on his right as a pivot and face the Federal right and centre, take posses- 
sion of the railroad, and so cut Rosecranz's line of communications. Rosecranz contem- 
plated throwing his left and centre on Breckinridge's iso- 
lated division, drive it through the town, and get in Bragg's 
rear. The two movements were identical. Before sun- 
rise on December 31, 1862, Rosecranz's army was in 
motion. 

McCleve's division crossed .Stone River without op- 
position, and Wood was following with his division, when 
deafening artillery and musketry broke out on the Fed- 
eral right. So tremendous was the volume of sound that 
both Wood and McCleve halted, the earth fairly trembling 
beneath the awful detonations. It was Bragg's assault, for 
he had massed his men undercover of the Winter fog and 
fallen with resistless momentum upon Johnson's division 
of McCook's command. .So unexpected was the move- 
ment that Johnson lost two of his batteries before either 
of them could go into action. The next instant the entire 
division was flying to the rear, Brigadier-General Willick 
being taken prisoner. General Kirk was wounded, an.l 
one-thi'd of the division were made prisoners. 

This movement uncovered the division commanded 




^4 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



by Davis, and his men also gave way, leaving behind several pieces of artillery. Bragg 
now believed that victory was in his hands, so strengthencil liis line and WW upon Sheridan's 
division. Rosecranz soon discovered that his gambit had been interfered with, so Rousseau's 
division was detached from Thomas and sent to Sheridan's support, whiU.' the advance of 
the left wing across Stone River was temporarily checked. 

Sheridan had anticipated the uncovering of his riank, and pkiccd his three batteries in 
positions to command the advance of the Confederate columns. Withers' division rushed 
down on Sheridan's flank in columns, but was met by a heavy discharge of shell and canister. 
Withers' men paused, then gathering strength, charged in a massive body, but the Federals 
poured in a deadly volley of musketry at forty yards' range, and the Confederates reeled, 
then broke ami rushed to their breastworks. Having turned the tide of battle, Sheridan 




GenClebourne.C.S.A 



(jEN.Withers C.S.A. 



Gen M^Goun,C.5.A. 



rapidly changed front to face McCown's and Cleburne's divisions. This change of front 
brought Sheridan's line almost at right angles to his previous one. Cleburne and McCown 
now fell upon the heroic Federal division, but they were met by a steady fire. For over 
an hour the Confederates charged and recharged, but they failed to shake the Federals. 
The fighting on both sides was of the most determined character, and the field was literally 
carpeted with dead and dying men. Sheridan learned, on sending for more ammunition, 
that the ordnance train belonging to McCook had been captured. He then wheeled 
round so as to cover Negley's right llank and continued the battle. 

Hardee and Polk next advanced with their full force, when .Sheridan e.xpended the 
rest of his ammunition and fell back in good order. II is three brigade commanders, 
Shaeffer, Roberts, and Sill, had been killed, and he left nearh' seventeen hundred of his 
men lying where they had fallen. " This is all that is left of us," said he, sadly, on reach- 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



345 



ing Rosecranz. It now came Thomas' turn to meet the onslaught, and gallantly did he 
do it. Both Rousseau's and McCleve's divisions held their positions in some cedar brakes, 
pouring in fierce musketry volleys on the advancing columns. But the Confederates were 
in overwhelming numbers, and were enabled to overlap Thomas' flank and get into his 
rear, where they delivered such a tempest of lead and iron that Thomas decided to assume 
position in the Nashville turnpike road. He succeeded, but lost terribly. On reaching 
the road he held it with the tenacity of a bulldog. Again and again did Bragg's division 
generals try to dislodge Thomas, without effect. 

The Federal army was now in a perilous position. Rosecranz's entire right wing had 
been annihilated, and Thomas' tenure of the flank was exceedinglj' weak. Rosecranz, how- 
ever, displayed rare military genius. When the Federal right had been so suddenly attacked 




by a force twice its strength, he ordered McCook and Thomas to hold as much of their 
ground as possible, promising a counter-movement to relieve the pressure. Sheridan, Rous- 
seau, and Negley obeyed, and having checked the Confederates, waited for the next move of 
their commander. 

With full confidence that McCook and Thomas would do their duty, Rosecranz 
gathered up his batteries and placed them in solid array on a knoll commanding the Mur- 
freesboro' wood and the fields beyond it. He then began changing front, but while doincr 
so Palmer's division of Crittendn's corps became the right wing, the five divisions under 
McCook and Thomas having fallen back to reform and receive a fresh supply of ammuni- 
tion. The right and centre brigades belonging to Palmer were now attacked and scattered. 



34" 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




But Colonel W. B. Hazen's brigade stood firm, though 
fully half of the men fell deail or wdunded during those 
awful sixty minutes. 

Ignorant of Rosecranz's plan, (ieneral Bragg de- 
cided that he IkuI won the hattle, and ordered an 
advance along his entire line. Cheatham, McCook, 
Cleburne, and Withers moved forward in magnificent 
shape. Then the Federal batteries opened with a ter- 
rific storm of shells, followed by grape and canister, 
the infantry delivering a steady musketry fire. The 
rftect was an awlul one, for the Confederate line melted 
away. Three times Bragg's men reformed and faced 
the tleadl\- torrent, but finally fell back, shattered and 
iliscomfitetl. 

Bragg now lirought Breckinritlge's seven thousand 
fresh m n into the held, but their assault upon Rose- 
cranz's left was so well met that Breckinridge had to 
retire. That was the end of the engagement. The 
battle of Murfreesboro' was claimed as a victory by both 
the Federal anil Confederate generals, but history gives the victory to the former, because 
Bragg finally retreated. 

There was more fighting on New Year's Day, and on the following morning, but it 
did not change the result. Ow January :; Breckinridge made a headlong assault on Van 
Cleve, on the Federal right, but he was driven back with a loss of one-third of his men. 
On Sunday, January 4, Rosecranz discovered that Bragg had disappeared, leaving two or 
three thousand wounded men in hospital. Rosecranz entered Murfreesboro', but further 
pursuit was impossible, owing to the exhausted condition of his troops. The Federal loss 
was sixteen thousand men ; that of the Confederates, over fifteen thousand. Rosecranz 
lost part of his supply train and twelve or fifteen pieces of artillery. He had, however, 
shown his ability to hold the line of the Cumberland Mountains. 

Subsequent to the defeat of General \'an Dorn by General Curtis at Pea Ridge, there 
ensued a long series of over one hundred minor engagements and skirmishes throughout 
the Mississippi \ alle)-. The Federal troops, under General J. M. .Schofield, operated in 
small bodies, the lighting being of a sanguinary character, for the opposing forces were 
natives of Missouri. Very little quarter was given. The destruction of public and private 
property was very great, and as Indian warriors were employed by both Federal and 
Confederate commanders, they infused an element of barbarity into this guerilla kind of 
warfare that was appalling. The loss in killed and wounded was \er\ hta\ y, no accurate 
estimate being attainable. Among the Federal officers directing these remarkable opera- 
tions were Colonels McNeil, Merrill, Ben Loan, Warren, Guitar, and Hughes. The 
Confederate leaders were Generals Cobb, Porter, Poindexter, and others. 

Then Schofield concentrated his forces and entered on a more vigorous campaign, 
being confronted by forty-five thousand men under General Thomas C. Himlman. The 
latter had complete control of Arkansas, and waited in the passes of the Ozark Mountains 
for Schofield's advance. General Blunt joined SchoruKI, and tlie I'tihrals succeeded in 
driving in the Confederate outlying divisions until the\- reachetl tlu^ oKl Pea Ridge battle 
ground, finally crossing the White River Mountains. General Herron also came uji, antl 
increased Schofield's strength to some twenty thousand men. A battle occurred at Boston 
Mountain which compelled Hindman to withdraw. But he crossed the Arkansas River on 
December I, and gave battle at Prairie Grove. General Herron was overwhelmed for a 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



ZA7 



time, but Blunt, who proved himself a vigorous fighter, came to the rescue, and striking 
the Confederate flank, turned the tide of victory. General Stein, one of Hindman's brig- 
adiers, led a charge to retrieve the day, but was killed at the head of his men. 

Owing to the then sparsely settled condition of Arkansas and Texas, there were 
numerous guerilla bands nioving about, their ostensible object being to aid the Confederate 
cause, while in many instances unscrupulous men used the device for concealing robbery. 
On August 19 a band of Sioux fell upon the village of New Ulm, on the Minnesota 
River, when they massacred every human being who fell into their hands, among the victims 
being one hundred and sixteen women and children. There being no survivors to tell the 
tale, no record has been left concerning the horrible scenes that were enacted. But evi- 
dence of their dreadful character was abundant, for the winding street of the picturesque 



BVT Maj (ten. 
Van Cleve. 




village was strewn with corpses, gray-haired women, pretty maidens, and innocent children 
being heaped together, just as they had fallen under the cruel tomahawks of the savage 
warriors. It recalled the Colonial days, when England employed Indian braves as auxil- 
iaries to her troops. 

Colonel Sibley, the inventor of the circular tent that was used by the Federal forces 
during the first year of the war, was ordered to avenge this atrocity. Starting from Fort 
Ridgely on September 19 with the Third, Sixth, and Seventh Minnesota regiments, he met 
the Sioux near Yellow Medicine Creek on September 23. The Sioux, led by Little Crow, 
charged on both of Sibley's flanks, but his musketry and artillery discharges were too much 
for the Indians, and they were defeated with great slaughter. This lesson was suffi- 
cient to keep all the Indian tribes quiet, and they very sensibly decided to let the white 
men fight out their own quarrel without interference b)- the red man. 



34*^ 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



TIIF. INITIAL MOVEMKNTS AlIAINST XUKSHrKC. 



Thou_<;h the Federals had captured New Orleans and Island Number Ten, the 
Mississippi River remained closed to navigation by formidable earthworks in front of the 
city of Vicksburg. This point on the mighty stream was important to the Confederacy, 
because it was the first high ground below Memphis. Indtx'd, X'icksburg is still known as 




Maj Gfn A.J.5mith. 



" The City of Terraces." There were other fortified points between \'icksburg and 
Port Hudson, but their fate rested on the safety of the former. 

Farragut had ascended the Mississippi with part of his fleet and four thousand infan- 
try under General Thomas Williams to attack Vicksburg. A desultory bombardment, 
covering ten weeks, ensued, the troops meanwhile endeavoring to cut a canal behind the 
city in order to change the channel of the river. But the project failed, and I-'arragut 
decided to go down the river again, so the Mississippi blockade remained unbroken. 

Three weeks after the battle of Corinth, Grant was placed in command of the Depart- 
ment of the Tennessee, when he began the series of operations that were to raise him 
to the rank of Lieutenant-General. He had long contemplated nun ing against \'icksburg, 
but it was only in November that he felt strong enough to do so. General John C. Pem- 
berton, a native of Pennsjhania who had joined the Confederate service, succeeded \'an 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



349 



Dorn, and assembled a strong force on the banks of the Yallabusha and Tallahatchie 
rivers, just above where they unite and form the Yazoo. Grant was at LaGrange, a few 
miles west of Grand Junction. 

Just as Grant had made all his arrangements he received orders from Washington to 
divide his command into four arm\- corps, with General IMcClernand to command one of 
them and to be assigned to that part of the army which was to operate down the Missis- 
sippi. As this interfered with his plans, he decided to take the field in person, in order 
that only one head, his own, should direct the subsequent operations. It was this 




tenacious grasp of the chief command that made Grant so successful a general. The 
Federal line at that time held the Mobile and Ohio Railroad from Corinth north tc 
Columbus in Kentucky, the Mississippi Central from Bolivar north to its junction with 
the former road, the Memphis and Charleston Railroad from Corinth east to Bear Creek, 
and the Mississippi River from Cairo to Memphis. Grant realized that the line was too 
long for defensive purposes, so decided to assume the offensive. 

^The fio-hting strength of Grant's forces was about forty-five thousand men. General 
Sherman commanded the right wing. General McPherson the left, and General C. S. Hamil- 
ton the centre. Pemberton was fortified at the Tallahatchie, but occupied Holl)' Springs 
and Grand Junction on the Mississippi Central Railroad. On November 8 the Federals 



3 so 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




occupied Grand Junction and LaGrange, and the next day 
Grant's cavalry entered Holly Springs, the Confederates 
falling back to the Tallahatchie, where they threw up 
breastworks. 

General McPherson had driven back General Lamar, 
holding open the road for Grant. On December 5 
Sherman arrived at College Hill, ami on the 8th he and 
Grant met at O.xfortl, when the Imal details were arranged. 
Ihning been so successful in using the naval branch of 
the Federal service on the Tennessee and Cumberland 
rivers. Grant asked for the co-operation of Commodore 
Porter, who had succeeded ommodore Foote on the Ohio 
and Upper Mississippi. This was freely given, every 
available gunboat being placed at his command. A large 
lleet of transi)orts was also sent from St. Louis by Gen- 
eral Allen. 

General Sherman was placed in command of the river 
e.xpedition, consisting of four divisions, which was to pro- 
ceed down the Mississijipi imdcr the protection of Porter's 
gunboats, and the orders were to open up the mouth of 
the Yazoo River and attempt to capture \'icksburg in 
the rear. In the meantime. Grant was to push on to Jackson and offer Pemberton battle. 
McClernand was to proceed to \'icksburg and co-operate with Sherman. These move- 
ments necessarily exposed the Federal line of communication and supply, but Grant had 
left Colonel R. C. Murphy at Holly Springs, his chief depot and hospital, with an ade- 
quate garrison. 

On December 20 General \'an Dorn swept down on Holly Springs, when, to the 
astonishment of the Federal garrison, Colonel Murphy offered no resistance, and accepted 
a parole for himself and his men, except the Second Illinois Regiment, which fought its 
way through the Confederate lines. Van Dorn thus came into possession of military 
property and supplies valued at nearly two millions of dollars, and destroyed everything 
he could not carry away. While \'an Dorn was approaching Holly Springs in one direc- 
tion a Federal force of four thousand men was marching to reinforce Murphy, and it 
arrived only four hours after the cowardly capitulation. Crrant very properly dismissed 
Colonel Murphy from the service. 

Simultaneous with \'an Dorn's capture of Holly Springs, General Forrest's Confederate 
cavalry tore a path through to Jackson, Tennessee. Passing swiftly along, Forrest cap- 
tured Trenton, Dyer's, Humboldt, Rutherford, Kenton, and other railroad stations. 
Applying the torch as he went along, the Confederate raider completely destroyed Grant's 
line of communication and all of his supplies. General Grant was thus compelled to recross 
the Tallahatchie River, finally reaching Graml Junction and LaGrange, and regaining 
communication with Memphis and Corinth. 

General Sherman started from Memphis on December 20, ha\ing embarked twent)- 
thousand men on river steamers. His promptness was occasioned by the desire to escape 
being superseded by General McClernand. The latter happened to be a warm personal 
friend of President Lincoln, and being ambitious to obtain an important independent com- 
mand, he descended to intrigue, and came very near attaining his object. 

On December 21 Commodore Porter joined Sherman with three gunboats : the Black 
Hawk, his flagship; the Conestoga, commanded by Captain Selfridge, and the Marmora, 
under Captain Getty. On the same day the Federal troops at Helena marched on board 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



351 



their waiting transports, and reported to Sherman, at Friar's Point, thus increasing the 
General's force to thirty thousand men. The remainder of Commodore Porter's fleet 
being already at the mouth of the Yazoo River, the joint expedition moved majestically 
down the river. So large a body of troops required the services of no less than sixty river 
steamers, for Sherman had forty regiments and eleven batteries, made up entirely of West- 
ern soldiers. 

As is usual at that season of the year, the Mississippi Kiver was running full, from bank 
to bank, and these transports were lashed together in groups of from four to six, each loaded 
to its full capacity with men, horses, cannon, and stores. Keeping up a steady, regulated 
speed, this enormous Beet of river craft floated on the broad and muddy stream, its appear- 
ance being an imposing one. The gunboats led with their pieces ready for instant action, 



Gen, T.H.Holmes. c.s./\. 




Gen.S.T.Churchill.C.SA 



and the transports swept down the great river in close and regular order. On the forward 
lower deck of each steamer were massed the artillery field pieces and caissons, while the 
remainder of the deck was occupied by horses or the stores of hay, oats, hard bread, coffee, 
sugar, barrels of beef and pork, live cattle, ordnance supplies, tents, wagons, and all other 
necessaries for an army. The upper decks were allotted to the troops, and as the steamers 
passed around the broad bends of the river the Federal soldiers sang army songs. Pew 
signs of human habitation were visible, for the desolating hand of War had been already 
laid on that part of the disputed territory. On board the fleet there was life and gayety, 
for both officers and men felt the influence of the pomp and circumstance with which the 
movement was being made. 

General Sherman was a great, an ideal soldier, the idol of those who followed the 
feathery fringe of the skirmish smoke and faced the open-mouthed cannon, winning victo- 



352 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



ries along the advancing lines as they marched with him. He was of a his^rhly nervous 
organization, and was often fitful and wayward, but only in liglu and tri\ial matters. 
When it came to anything of conse([uence to his fellow-men, or to the- country, he was as 
firm and unshaken as a rock. 

Seen at the head of a column of troops, or giving orders for their disposition on the 
field, Sherman presented a remarkable figure. Riding along the road, he was constantly 
<mzino- about him, noting the lay of the land passed over, as if mentally planning how a 
battle could be fought there. When preparing for an engagement Sherman was in an 
excited mood, though his orders were clear and concise, despite the nervous manner of 
their delivery. For the moment, the General was stern and sharp in his demeanor. Corps 
and divisions were sent here and therewith rapidity, showing that the entire plan of opera- 
tions had been quickly formulated in his active brain. Though generally courteous to his 
subordinate generals, Sherman could at times show considerable temper if things did not go 




exactly as he wanted, or when some mistake had been made. Then \\v would straighten 
his lean figure and utter a good deal of the language they often used in h'landers. This 
generally had its effect, and Sherman gradually grew quiet and composed. 

General Sherman, on active campaign, used to wear one of the rustiest uniform coats 
that was ever seen. It was the old one he had ordercil made when first commissioned a 
Brigadier in 1861. When he started from Atlanta on his march to the sea the old coat had 
assumed two or three distinct tinges of color, for the rain and sunshine of half dozen 
campaigns had done the garment up brown, blue, and green. The silken threads in the 
buttonholes w^ere quite white, while the shoulder straps of his rank as a Major-General had 
assumed the hue of rusty copper, instead of brilliant gold. But the coat was dear to the 
heart of the old warrior, and he seemed to be more at home in it than in the more- correct 
one needed for parade. A few weeks before the General's death I asked him about the 
old coat. " Got it yet," he replied. " That coat saw its share of service, didn't it ? " 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



353 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



BATTLE OK CHICKASAW HAVUU AND CAPTURE OK KORT HINDMAN. 



Sherman's expedition reached MilHken's Bend on Christmas Day, 1862, Burbridge's 
brigade being sent to destroy the railroad between Vicksbiirg and Shreveport, Louisiana, a 
task that was soon accomphshed. Leaving A. J. Smith with his division to wait for Bur- 
bridge, the remaining three divisions proceeded to the mouth of the Yazoo River, the 
troops disembarking at Johnson's plantation. Steele's division took position just above 
the mouth of Chickasaw Bayou, M. L. Smith's being below, with Morgan's in the centre. 
The F"ederals were really on an island, separated from the Walnut Hills, on which the city 
of Vicksburg stands, by a broad, shallow bayou, called Old River, it having once been the 
channel of the Yazoo. 

Reconnaissances on December 27 and 28 satisfied Sherman that the bayous interfered 
with his contemplated movement, so he changed front. It was during these reconnais- 
sances that Morgan L. .Smith was severely wounded, the command of his division falling 
to Brigadier-General D. Stuart. On the morning of December 29 everything was ready 
for attack, A. J. Smith's division having arrived. The Confederate force lying between 
Vicksburg and Haine's Bluff was about fifteen thousand strong, under command of Gen- 
erals Martin Luther Smith and Stephen D. Lee. 

Sherman's plan was to attack all along his line, while the army broke across the bayou 
at two selected points where there was tolerably good footing. Morgan's division was to 
lead this movement, and when Sherman pointed out the place where he could cross, Mor- 
gan gallantly replied : " General, in ten minutes after you give the signal I'll be on those 
hills." But he failed to keep the promise. Steele's division was to follow and support 
Morgan's. The passage across the bayou was very narrow, and immediately in front of it 
the Confederates had erected a battery, only three hundred yards away. A strong force 
of infantry was posted on the spurs of the hill. In order to draw attention away from this 
point, Sherman ordered an attack on both of his flanks. 

About noon of December 29 the Federals opened a heavy artillery fire along their 
whole line, it being briskly replied to by the Confederate batteries. Then, as De Cour- 
cey's brigade, of Morgan's division, 
crossed the bayou, Lee's infantry 
began a withering fusillade, which 
prevented De Courcey from going 
forward. Frank Blair's brigade, of 
Steele's division, then crossed the 
bayou, when it encountered a se- 
vere artillery cross-fire. Being un- 
supported, Blair was compelled to 
fall back, leaving behind nearly 
five hundred men killed, wounded, 
and prisoners. Among the wound- 
ed was Colonel Thomas Fletcher, 
of Missouri, who afterwards became 
Governor of his State. The Sixth 
Missouri got across, but could do 




354 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



nothincr except scoop out caves in the bank, under a Confederate battery, using their hands 
and bayonets the Thirteenth Regulars acting as sharpshooters and Iceeping the cannon- 
iers quiet Thc-re has been no explanation why J. W. Morgan did not obey orders and 
cross the bayou. His failure to do so prevented Sherman continuing the assault, because 
his oI)iective point had been discovered by the Confederates. 

Commodore Porter and General Sherman had become personal tnends, and they co- 
operated in pcTfect harmony. 1-inding thai tin- Confederates were reinforcmg their line, 
Shernvm decided to consult Porter and try some other point of attack. Sitting down 




on the flagship, the soldier and the sailor agreed on a |)lan. During the next day, De- 
cember 30, a sufficient numl)er of steamers were selected and thfir captains ordered to get 
up steam. These river men and their pilots, learning that another move was contem- 
plated, became demoralized, so it was necessary to ])lace guards over them, in order to be 
sure that they would be at their posts. That night Steele's division, which had been qui- 
etly massed on the river bank during the afternoon, was marched on board the transports. 
The steamers were to proceed up the Yazoo River to Maine's Hluff and disembark at day- 
light. Sherman had meanwhile strengthened his [losition on Chickasaw Bajou. in order 
to renew the assault on that i)art of the line sinuiltaneoush with therne intrusted to 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



355 




Steele. During that day the 
fleet had been busy at Maine's 
and Snyder's bluffs, when Cap- 
t.iin Cjwin was mortally wound- 
ed by a round shot. 

At niidnight a dense fog set- 
tled down on the river, and it 
was impossible for -Steele to 
mo\e, and after daylight a 
s t e a d y rain began falling. 
Sherman had sufficient experi- 
ence regarding these Western 
rivers to know that a few hours' 
rain would inundate the bay- 
ous antl render his position 
untenable. He noticed that 
the high-water mark on the 
huge Cottonwood trees stood 
fifteen feet from the ground, and as the rivers frequently rise from five to six feet 
in a single night, he lost no time in ordering all the stores re-embarked, and the 
troops were directed to be read)' to join their respective boats during the night of 
fanuary i, 1863. While Sherman's army was thus preparing to withdraw there were 
heav)' reinforcements pouring into Vicksburg, having been sent by Pemberton, who was 
then at Grenada. At sunrise of January 2 Sherman's entire force was afloat, his loss dur- 
ing the movement having been seventeen hundred and thirty men killed, wounded, and 
missing. Then McClernand arrived at the mouth of the Yazoo, and on meeting Sherman 
haniled him an order from the War Department which gave IMcClernand command of the 
expeditionary force on the Mississippi. This reduced Sherman to the position of a corps 
commander. The arm\- name was also changed to the Army of the Mississippi. 

The first thing McClernand did was to order the expedition to return to Milliken's 
Bend, and thus the simultaneous movement against \'icksburg by Generals Grant and 
Sherman came to an inglorious end. Six months after, these two T^ederal commanders 
tasted the fruits of victor)'. 

General McClernand seems to have entertained the idea that he was destined to be the 
most successful general in the F'ederal service, and as he had the ear of the President, and 
was not at all backward in criticising everybody but himself, he made considerable mis- 
chief. He talked grandilo(|uently about what he was going to do, but it was evident to 
his corps commanders that he hail no settled plan how to "cut his way to the sea," as he 
expressed it. 

While General Sherman was on his way to attack \'icksburg in December the steamer 
Blue \\' ing, that had been sent down the river with a full freight of coal and ammunition 
on barges, had been captured by the Confederate garrison at the post of Arkansas. A boy 
who had been on board escaped by swimming ashore. He made his way to Milliken's 
Bend and gave General Sherman the details. Seeing the importance of capturing the 
garrison, Sherman went to McClernand and asked permission to take one division and go 
up the Arkansas River in order to seize the post. McClernand at first objected, but finally 
consented to see Commodore Porter, who was at the mouth of the Yazoo, in his flagship 
the Black Hawk. 

When they arrived at midnight Sherman was surprised to see Porter treat the new 
commander very brusquely. He therefore took the future admiral into the forward 



3S6 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



cabin and demanded what he meant by it. Porter replied that he did not Hke McCIernand, 
for he had met him in Washington, and said something profane and uncompHmentary. 
Sherman befcred Porter, for the sake of harmony, to put his prejudice into his pocket and 
assist in o-ettin-^"- up the Arkansas River expedition. The Commodore stroked his long 
black beard, laughed, and good-naturedly gave in. The difficulty about coal being got over, 
Porter volunteered to accompany the expedition, instead of sending a subordinate officer. 
This delighted Sherman, who supposed that he was to command the land forces, but to his 
mortification McCIernand decided to take the entire army and so have all the glory. 

Accordingly, the four divisions proceeded, under convoy of three ironclads, up the 
Mississippi River to the mouth of White River, reaching that point January 8. On 
the following da)' the expedition ascended White River to what is called "The Cut Off," 
passin"- through which it entered the Arkansas. Disembarking below Fort llindnian. 




»gt>y Citbert Gau/. 



Stuart's division advanced on the morning of January lo, encountering a strong Confeder- 
ate force lying behind a line of intrenchments extending from the river bank to a swamp. 
Sherman took Steele's division, and passing over a road through the swamp, was moving 
around to the rear of Fort Hindman when McCIernand galloped after him and said that 
the Confederates had fallen back and re-entered the fort. Sherman was then ordered to 
retrace his steps and join Stuart. 

Four miles below the fort the Federals passed through the abandoned works and got 
so near to the fort that they could hear the sound of axes. On the morning of January 1 1 
they discovered that the Confederates had thrown up a new line of breastworks which 
connected I'ort Hindman with an impassable swamp. Sherman's corps stood on the right 
of a road that divided the peninsula, Morgan's being on the left. McCIernand remained 
on board the steamer Tigress, and sent a man to climb a tall tree and observe the move- 
ments. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



357 



About half-past ten o'clock Porter's ironclads moved up and opened fire on the fort 
This was the signal for Sherman and Morgan, and they advanced in fine style. Morgan 
and the gunboats paid strict attention to the fort, while Sherman's men faced the new 
breastwork. The Federal line moved steadily forward, delivering sharp musket volleys and 
a fierce artillery fire. 

Then a white flag was hoisted, and Sherman entered the fort, finding the interior 
almost a complete wreck. Fort Hindman was a square bastioned work, with a ditch fifteen 
feet wide and a parapet eighteen feet high. It mounted two eight-inch, one nine-inch, and 
nine six inch guns. General I. J. Churchill was in command, and he had a garrison of five 
thousand men. When Churchill notified General T. H. Holmes, who commanded the 
Confederate forces at Little Rock, that the Federals were advancing in force, the latter 
replied, " Hold on until help arrives, or until )-ou are all dead." But Churchill found the 
odds too great, for he was facing twenty-six thousand men, therefore surrendered. In 
fact, the surrender was brought about in a very curious manner. While the Confederate 
general was considering what was best to be done, as nearly all of his artillerymen were 
dead or wounded, a staff officer went to Brigadier-General Garland, whose brigade was 
facing Sherman, and said Churchill's orders were to hoist a white flag. When Sherman 
entered the fort there was an angry altercation going on between Garland and Churchill, 
the latter insisting that he had given no order to surrender. 

Ever watchful for an opportunity to wound the feelings of his subordinates, McCler- 
nand now hit on the fertile expedient of keeping Sherman outside the fort, while the honor 
of occupying it was given to one of Morgan's division commanders, though he. knew very 
well that Sherman and his corps had been the first to enter. By this act McClernand 
ignored one of the courtesies of military etiquette. The Federal loss at Fort Hindman 
was nine hundred and seventy-seven killed and wounded, among the latter being General 
Hovty. The Confederate loss was five thousand one hundred and forty. The dead 
being buried and the prisoners despatched to St. Louis, the fort was completely dismantled 
and the parapet destroyed by explosion. A small expedition under General Gorman and 
Lieutenant J. G. Walker ascended still further up the White River, sweeping away the 
redoubts at Duval's Bluff, St. Charles, and Des Arc. On January 13 the Army of the 
Mississippi dropped down the Arkansas River as far as Napoleon. 





¥ 


/■ 


^5 


^^^ ' ^ih. w^^ #^ 


'-jM 


H| 


^^ 




^K '' 


^^^B^^^^B^^I 


IB 


hM 




MP^ 


M| 


B 


p^ 




P' ■ 



Generals iJ 



35« 



THE HfEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




CHAPTER XXXII. 



frF.XF.KAL UUKXSIDES AUVANCE Ul'ON FKEDERICKSIIU kC. 



General Ambrose K. Burnside assumed command of the Arm\' of the Potomac dis- 
trustful of his own abilit)', for he said : " With diffidence for m\seH, l)i.it with a proud 
confidence in the unswerving loyalty and determination of the gallant arm)' now intrusted 
to my care, I accept its control." Such an utterance was not calculated to inspire confi- 
dence, for men usually judge others by their own estimate, until proved incorrect. 

It is only justice to Burnside to say that like all of the Federal commanders in the 
East, he was hampered by Halleck, who was always interfering. 

Instead of adopting the organization of the army as left him by McCIellan, it consisting 
of six separate and easily handled army corps, Burnside's first step was to form three grand 
divisions of two corps each, commanded by Generals Sumner, Franklin, and Hooker. 
General Sigel was given an unattached body of troops as a reserve. On November 14 the 
army was set in motion. 

Then occurred one of those lamentable mistakes which often marked the campaigns 
of the Arm\' of the Potomac. Burnside decided to move one column toward Rappahan- 
nock Station and so lead Lee to expect an advance near Gordonsville, while in reality he 
intended to enter P"redericksburg and march for Hanover Court House. Acquia Creek 
was to be the new base of supplies, and as the Fredericksburg bridges had been burned, 
Burnside asked for a pontoon train with which to cross the river. Halleck agreed, but 
when told that the departure of Burnside's columns from Warrcnton should be delayed 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



359 



five days in order to give time for transporting the ponderous pontoon trains the com- 
mander-in-chief not only refused to delay the army, but actually kept Burnside in igno- 
rance of the fact that he was to be hindered by the non-arrival of the huge boats. By this 
act Halleck caused the useless sacrifice of thousands of brave men. The verdict of history 
is that for this act he deserved dismissal from the service, a medicine he was fond of 
administering to others. This may seem harsh criticism, but it has been made time and 
time again by distinguished generals in the presence of the author. As it was, Burnside 
had to shoulder all the responsibility and blame. 

On a bright November morning the three grand divisions bi gan their new campaign. 
The roads were good, the air cool and comfortable. Every man had good clothing, the 
armament was in first-class condition, so the Federal soldiers marched forward with a feel- 




ing of hope and expectancy. There was, however, an element which received very 
little attention from the authorities at Washington, and that was the abundant and 
unchecked sources of information which the Confederates always enjoyed in the East. It 
was natural for the Confederates to take advantage of their opportunities, but it does seem 
remarkably strange that the Federal Goxernment did not ferret out the spies in official 
quarters. Under these circumstances it is not surprising that Burnside had scarcely got in 
motion when Longstreet appeared on the railroad between Acquia Creek and Fredericks- 
burg and destroyed it. 

On Nt)vember 17 the head of Sumner's division reached Falmouth, opposite I'"reder- 
icksburg, Franklin and Hooker coming wy on the 19th. At that time the Rappahannock 
might have been forded, Ijut the attempt was not made, Burnside preferring to wait for his 



THE MRMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




SCENKS AT ArouiA CrfKK I.ANDING, ArMY 01 THK PoTOMAC, NOVEMBER, 1862, TO JUNE, 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



^.6 1 




promised pontoons. 
Then a heavy rain 
swelled the river and 
rendered fording an 
impossibility. This 
delay cost Burnside 
the possession of 
Marye's Heights, 
which stand behind 
the city and command 
it. for on November 
22 the Confederates 
appeared in strong 
force and began for- 
lifving that position. 
" Where are my 
pontoons?" tele- 
graphed Burnside. 

" They will start to-m(jrrow," was the cool reply. The consequence was that these boats 
did not beigin to reach Falmouth until November 25, and it was the loth of December 
before the engineers were ready to build their bridges. This fatal delay enabled Lee to 
gather his whole army on Marye's Heights, his eighty thousand men being thoroughly 
intrenched. The Confederate position was like a half-moon, each point reaching the 
river. Here the .A.rmy of Northern Virginia waited at its ease. The morning of December 
10 broke raw and cold, with a dense fog covering the river and plain. 'I he work of 
building five bridges across the Rappahannock was begu 1 under a galling musketry fire 
from the opposite bank of the river. Almost every blow of a hammer or a.\e cost a 
human life. Burnside grew impatient, and gave orders for his artillery, already massed 
on Stafford Heights, to open fire on the city. Again was the Demon of Destruction 
stalking abroad. 

" Batter the place down, if necessary," said General I^urnside. " Silence those sharp- 
shooters and finish the bridges." 

His order was promptly obeyeil. In less than twenty minutes no less than one hun- 
dred cannon, many of them of the largest calibre, opened fire on Fredericksburg. Battered 
by solid shot, and set on fire by e.Kploding shells, the city soon grew untenable, for five 
thousand rounds were expended, and Fredericksburg became amass of ruins. But the 
Confederate sharpshooters were not driven away, and the bridges were yet to be com- 
pleted. The artillery having failed, volunteers were called for to cross the river in boats 
as a forlorn hope. The Nineteenth and Twentieth Massachusetts and Seventh Michigan 
stepped forward to a man, and a line of pontoon boats was soon crossing the river. The 
Confederate rifiemen were speedily driven from their shelters, and the bridge-building 
went on with celerity. 

.Sumner got across the river by sunset of December i i, using the upper bridges. He 
was followed by Haoker, who took about one-third of his troops, leaving the remainder to 
cross in the morning. Franklin had the two lower bridges, and was in full force on the 
other side soon after dusk. None of these grand divisions met any resistance, General I^ee 
preferring to await attack in his intrenched position. In silence, Burnside's arm\- took up 
its position outside of the cit)-, facing Marye's Heights, the rear columns marching over the 
bridges during the night. At dawn of December 12, 1862, both armies stood stripped for 
the combat that was to prove one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. 



362 



////: MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Scenes at Acijuia Ckkek Lakdinc, Arm\ .>► thk Potomac, Novk.muh«, iS6j, to June, 1863. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



363 




chaptp:r XXXIII. 



THE SANliriXARV liATTLK OF KRKD t;KI(;RSHUK( ;. 



The position assumed by Lee's army was on a table lanil, witli two ridges rising one 
above the other. These Marye's Heights, as is their generic name, stand nearly one 
mile from the city of Fredericksburg, the plain in frunt being almost level. South of these 
heights are a series of irregular hills, following the line of the Massapomax River, until it 
falls into the Rappahannock. Prospect Hill stands at the southern extremit)', Lee's Hill 
at the northern end, and Bernard's Cabin near the centre. Every hill had its share of 
cannon, scj that the Arm)' of the Potomac stood before three hundred- guns of all calibres, 
without protection or jjroper position for its own batteries. Yet General Burnside pre- 
pared to dash his magnificent command against this formidable obstacle. 

As has been said, Lee had eight)' thousand men, Burnside's force l)eing one himdreti 
and ten thousand. To give the reader some idea of these imposing numbers, it may be 
said that if Lee's army had been placed in a straight line in the cit\ of New York it would 
have extended from the Battery to the Obelisk in Central Park, wliile Burnside's line would 
have run from the Battery to High Bridge. These two enormous bodies of men were, how- 
ever, massed within a space of less than three scpiare miles. B\' the morning of December 
12 Lee had made the following disposition of his troops: A. P. Hill's division occupied 
the extreme right from Hamilton's Crossing to Bernard's Cabin ; Hood's division stood on 
the crest of the heights between Deep Run and Hazel Run ; Pickett's division crouched 
under the hills between the Telegraph Road and Hazel Run, forming Lee's centre. On 



^6a 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



365 



the left of Pickett the division of McLaws had possession of the hills, while Anderson's 
division rested on the Rappahannock River. Marye's Hill, commanding the Plank Road, 
was held by Ransom's division, and it bristled with cannon. 

Burnside had, at first, no intention of facing the awful array of Confederate artil- 
lery. That had been his original plan, until he decided to send two of Hooker's 
divisions to Franklin, giving the latter half of the army for the task of turning Lee's rio^ht 
flank, when the rest of the Federal line was to move forward. P"ranklin expected to start 
at daylight on the morning of December 13, but to his surprise Burnside sent orders that 
he was to keep his troops in readiness for a rapid movement down the Richmond road 
after first seizing Hamilton Crossing and the Massapomax Heights. 

That General Burnside was unequal to the command of so large a body of troops is 
shown by his contradictory orders. Having tied up F"ranklin, he surprised Sumner by 




ordering him to move forward and attack Lee's centre, thus suddenly and unexpectedh^ 
changing the preconcerted plans and hopelessly confusing his generals. 

A more gloomy battle morning could not be imagined. The air was raw and chilly, 
the dense fog that wrapped the hills, fields, and woods in its moist and clammy embrace 
adding to the discomfort of the troops. Men move with spirit into deadly combat when 
rosy dawn gives token of a bright and sunny day, but here at Fredericksburg colonels lost 
sight of their regiments in the heavy mist, while brigade commanders learned with difficulty 
which was the right or the left of their line. To the Confederates it was also cheerless, 
but they had already taken up their positions, and knew the ground, while the Federal army 
was groping through the rolling vapor like a blind man. 

Franklin began the battle by sending Meade's division forward to attack the Mas- 
sapomax Heights. General Reynolds, of the Fifth Corps, placed Doubleday's divi- 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



1^7 



sion on Meade's left, while Gibbon occupied a similar position on Meade's right. The 
trooos stumbled along' in the wet fog over ground full of narrow gullies and clumps of 
trees, but the foo- be^'"an lifting, and at ten o'clock Meade's men, who had advanced beyond 
the Richmond road, caught sight of the Confederate line. The opposing bodies of infantry 
were scarcely three hundred yards apart, and at that range the Confederates poured in a 
deadly series of musketry volleys. At the same time "Jeb" Stuart's mounted artillery 
opened fire on the Richmond road. Staggering before this sudden onslaught, Meade's 
division fathered itself together and returned the volleys. This stand-up tight continued 
for nearly half an hour, when Doubleday came up and deployed, silencing Stuart's guns, 
so that Meade was able to move forward as far as the railroad, where A. P. Hill's division 
was concealed. As the Federal division approached Prospect Hill it was met by a cross- 
fire of artillery from Walker's guns and Jackson's centre. There was another pause while 




the Federal batteries endeavored to silence the Confederate artillery. The duel that 
ensued was a terrible one, the infantry on both sides receiving shells at point-blank range. 
Meanwhile, General Birney, from Stoneman's corps, had hurried up with his division, 
and, as the fire from Prospect Hill visibly slackened, Meade went forward. Su sudden 
was the rush of these Pennsylvania regiments that the Confederates under General Brock- 
enborough W(;re driven back, the Federals crossing the railroad to a new road that had 
been cut h\ Lee for his interior line of communication. As they passed into this road 
Gregg's South Carolina brigade was encountered. The Confederate general, supposing 
Meade's advance to be a part of Lee's army, held his fire, and the next instant his brigade 
received a volley from three thousand muskets scarcely one hundred feet away. General 
Greo-o- fell mortally wounded, and his ccmmand was nearlj- annihilated. But Meade 
was not being supported, as Doubleda)- had advanced along the Richmond turnpike. 



368 



THE MEMORIAL WAR HOOK. 



while Gibbon stopped at the railroail. Tlicn Ewl-H's division rushed into the breach, the 
Confeilerate line was reformed, and struck Meade's flank with such fury that he had to 
fall back under cover of his artillery, Birney coming forward and turning the tide. The 
Confederates were ao-ain forced back, but their line was unbroken, and the gap had been 
closeil ; thus all that Meade had gaineil was lost. The two divisions under Gibbon and 
Meade suffered heavily, the latter general being wounded. 

The remainder of Burnside's army stood to arms in their several positions, listening 
to Revnolds' attack on the left of the Federal line. Sumner, with Couch's -Second Corps, 
occupied the town, while Wilco.x's Ninth Corps held the ground between Fredericksburg 
and I-'ranklin's line. Hooker stood on the right, near the river. The booming of Frank- 
lin's anil [ackson's cannon linally tlied away, the fog disappeared, and at the noon hour a 
llood of bright sunshine brightened what was soon to be a frightful battlefield. 




Finally Burnside gave the signal, and General b'rench's division, consisting of Kim- 
ball's, Anderson's, and Palmer's brigades, emerged from the town and entered the open 
plain in front of Marye's Heights. Scarcely had the heads of the columns shown them- 
selves, when all the Confederate batteries on the ojiiiosite hill opened on Fredericksburg, 
setting fire to manv of the houses, shattering others, and com])elling the Federal engineers 
to blow up several in order to pre\ent the tiames spreading. Then, when French began 
forming his line, the muzzles of Lee's guns were depressed, the Confederate shells falling 
thickly among the assembling lines. Behind French's division was Hancock's, with How- 
ard's in reserve. The heavy Federal guns on the other side of the river now opened on 
the Confederate batteries on Marye's Hill, in hopes of silencing them, but the range was 
too great, so the gunners reluctantU abandoned their effort. Meanwhile, the men under 
French betran the awful task assio'ned them, broni the snot where thev formed in line of 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



369 




battle to the foot of Marj'e's Hill 
was less than a mile. The ground 
was almost level, yet the Federal 
infantiy was expected to march 
across this narrow plain in the 
face of one hundred cannon and 
thirty thousand muskets. 

The sun was shining clear and 
bright, not a cloud floated in the 
steel-blue sky, and there was a 
shimmer on the frostened grass 
which gave it a golden hue. In 
a few short minutes this yellow 
tinge was changed to dark crim- 
son, for thousands of brave men 
dyed it with their blood. As Burnside's reserve guns on Stafford Heights ceased their 
useless clamor, P>ench's and Hancock's divisions, each nearly six thousand strong, beo-an 
advancing. Scarcely had the brigade and regimental flags begun fluttering in the cool 
breeze than the guns on Marye's Hill increased their fire. Shell and round shot were hurled 
upon the advancing columns, cutting ghastly gaps in the ranks, but the Federal line moved 
steadily onward. So heavy was this Confederate artillery fusillade that the Federal bat- 
teries could not advance. When half the distance had been covered the two divisions 
rushed forward, French's men getting within fifty yards of the stone wall behind which 
crouched the Confederate infantry. Then a blinding flash of light sprang forth, followed 
by the crash of a tremendous voile)' of musketry. The front line melted away and Han- 
cock's men passed over it to meet the iron and leaden tempest. In fifteen minutes his 
division shared the fate of French's, and out of the twelve thousand men who started on 
the awful charge scarcely four thousand returned. Nearly four hundred field and line offi- 
cers fell among the dead and wounded. 

With that stubbornness that marked every battle between these Norther., and South- 
ern soldiers. General Howard next moved into the breach and charged on Hancock's right, 
while Generals Sturgis and Getty dashed across Hazel Run on the extreme rio-ht. But 
they were met by the same steady, merciless volleys of grape, canister, and bullet, and the 
lines were driven back, leaving the ground thickly covered with more dead and dying men. 
Every subordinate general on the field now supposed that Burnside would pause, and 
dispositions were made to give the troops some slight shelter. But Burnside seemed to be 
seized by a spasm cf insanity, for he paced up and down the terrace of the Phillips House 
on the northern bank of the Rappahannock, muttering, "That crest must be carried 
today." Ignoring the awful carnage among his troops, he sent Franklin orders to attack 
with all his force, while Hooker was directed to repeat the effort just made by French, 
Howard, and Hancock. 

Hooker, quickly moving forward with Humphrey's and Sykes' divisions, advanced on 
Marye's Hill. But when told b)- French and Hancock what he was about to face he sent 
an aide to Burnside asking that the order be countermanded. The commanding o-eneral 
reiterated his orders. Then Hooker crossed the river and made the appeal in person. 
But the only reply was, "That height must be carried this evening." 

General Hooker returned to his command at four o'clock, hearing a sharp outburst on 
the right of Lee's line as he galloped across the pontoon bridge. The Confederates had 
endeavored to regain possession cf the railroad and the Richmond turnpike, but were 
repulsed by Meade and Birney, the Fifty-seventh North Carolina leaving nearly every 



3;o 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



officer and man behind. Posting a couple of batteries on his rij^ht and left, Hooker 
ordered the guns to open a rapid tire. Then Humphrey's men dropped their haversacks 
and knapsacks, and throwing off their overcoats, they made the assault with empty muskets, 
for there was no time to load. With fi.\ed bayonets, the men rushed forward, actually 
getting within fifteen or twenty yards of the fatal stone wall. Another flash saluted them, 
the ranks were shattered, and the division fell back crushed and broken. In fifteen minutes 
seventeen hundred and sixty men were killed or wounded. Darkness now fell upon the 
bloody field and mercifully put an end to the slaughter. 

On Sunday, December 14, liurnside proposed to renew the assault, but the consensus 
of opinion among his generals was against it, so he withdrew, and Lee re-entered the town. 
Burnside lost thirteen hundred and eiohtv-seven men killed, nine thousand one hundred 




thi 



Lee's loss was over 



wounded, and three thousand two lumdrcd aiul thirtN-tour missnii 
six thousand. 

Burnside immediatel\- formulated another plan 01 operations. He proposed a feint 
attack at Kelley's Ford, above the junction of the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers, 
while moving his main force below Fredericksburg. But Mr. Lincoln forbade the move- 
ment, so Burnside tendered his resignation, which the President refused to accept. Then 
permission was given him to cross the Rappahannock at United States and Banks' fords. 
The several grand divisions were to march at dawn t)f [anuary 20, 1863, but a storm of 
snow, rain, and sleet deluged the roads and made them impassable. The Federal army 
started for the river in due time, and floundered through mud and rain for three days, being 
finally compelled to return to Winter quarters. The heavy rains had so softened the earth 
that cavalry, artillery, and infantry had to wade for miles through deep mud, while the am- 
munition and supply trains could not proceed or join their several columns. " The Mud 
March " was the soldiers' nickname for this remarkable and insane movement, these three 
words telling their own story. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



17^ 



(M 







The rich soil of that fertile region is held in 
place by the outcropping masses of rock, which 
stretch out from the massive Blue Run range 
of mountains like the surface roots of a gigan- 
tic tree. Wherever the engineers of the roads 
had cut through these rocky ridges to reduce 
the grade the hollows were tilled to the depth 
of eight or ten feet with loose earth, which, 
though solid enough for hoof and wheels in 
dry weather, became quagmire pits in the pres- 
ence of long-continued rains. The consequence 
DR. LF.TTERMAN, MED.cAi, mRECTOR.^ANi. .,MiHK ,,,HitHK,, ,KMv uH ^^^^ ^ j^ ^ ^ ^^^ artillery aud supply wagotts were 

soon up to the hubs in the clinging mud. 

During this movement the author's brigade had halted on the slope of a hill for 
rest, and we watched the movement of a long train of wagons that came plunging along 
the road. The leading wagon went gallantly down the steep incline, the driver evidently 
hoping to gain sufficient headway by his rapid descent to ascend the upward grade with 
comparative ease. But, unhappily, his brake broke, and the team of six mules found the 
heavy wagon sliding on to their heels. The brutes, in positive terror, made a sudden 
plunge to the right, and in less than a minute all of the unfortunate animals sank into the 
mire and disappeared from sight. The driver only escaped by climbing to the top of his 
canvas roof, from which he was rescued with difficult)'. Three months after, I passed over the 
same road, and saw the imbedded wagon, though the six mules lay buried beneath the 
then hardened earth. 

The people of the North were irritated, Halleck was criticised, and Burnside con- 
demned. The latter made charges of insubordination against Generals Brooks, Cochrane, 
Hooker, and Newton, and wanted them dismissed the service. He wrote out the order, 
adding that Generals Ferriss, Franklin, Smith, and Sturgis were deprived of their com- 
mands. President Lincoln refused to sign the order, and Burnside resigned. General 
Hooker was given the command. General Sumner being relieved at his own request, and 
General Franklin was transferred to another sphere. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




CHAPTER XXXIV. 



HOOKERS FLAXK M(JVE.ME\T AGAINST LEE. 



While I looker was reorganizing' antl recruiting the Arm\' ol the Potomac, Lee sent 
Longstreet to the Blackwater River, where he was joined by Hill, their aggregate force 
being forty thousand men. The Confederates at once besieged Suffolk, Virginia, then in 
possession of a Federal force under General John J. Peck. This siege continued for 
twenty-four days, being raised on May 3. Its importance lay in the fact that Lee was 
deprived of the services of Longstreet's corps during the Chancellorsville campaign. H ooker 
assumed his command on January 26, 1863, and divided the army into seven corps, the 
First, Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Eleventh, and Twelfth, commanded by Generals John 
Fulton Reynolds, D. N. Couch, Daniel E. Sickles, George G. Meade, John Sedgwick, O. 
O. Howard, and Henry W. Slocum. The cavalry was consolidated as a corps under Gen- 
eral George Stoneman. Each corps was given a distinctive badge, which was worn by the 
men on their caps and was emblazoned on their banners. New regiments were poured 
into the army, the hospitals were emptied, and scattered commands drawn in, until Hooker 
had one hundred and thirty-six thousand men at his disposal. 

President Lincoln visited Falmouth early in April, and reviewed the Federal army. 
It was a magnificent spectacle, the strange devices of crosses, stars, crescents, and trefoils 
on the headquarter banners giving the scene a touch of that barbaric splendor historians 
ascribe to the steel-clad Crusaders on the sands of Palestine. The glitter of bayonet and 
sabre, the fluttering folds of regimental and brigade colors, the roll of drums, and the 
crash of music filled the eye and the ear as President Lincoln rode along the massed 
lines. The plain selected was in full view of the Confederate army, as it stood on the 
opposite bank of the Rappahannock, the men in butternut watching with curious interest 
the holiday evolutions of the men in blue. 

General Lee's line at that time extended from Banks' P'ortl to Port Royal, a distance 
of twenty-five miles, his cavalry holding tlie line of the upjicr Rappahannock. He had 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



373 



strengthened his position in Marye's Heights in such a way that he was apparently entirely 
safe from attack in front of Fredericksburg. His lines of retreat were by the railroad or 
the Gordonsville turnpike. General Hooker decided on a flank movement to compel Lee 
to fight him on new ground. The Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth corps, with General 
Meade in chief command, were sent on a long detour into Lee's rear. On April 22 Gen- 
eral Stoneman started with twelve thousand sabres to destroy all the railroads and bridges 
along Lee's lines of communication with Richmond. He performed this duty in the most 
effectual manner, drawing after him the Confederate cavalry, thus making it possible for 
the three corps under Meade to cross the Rappahannock at Kelley's Ford without detection. 
So rapid was the march of this flying column that it crossed the Rapidan during the ni^-dit 
of April 28. 

Meade's movement was a wondertul one, for he had marched his men nearly forty 



BvtMaj6en 

5.AWlLLIAMS,« 



BvT MAd Gen 
J. R. Brooke. 




miles inside of thirt)-si\ hours, and stood in the rear of Lee's right llank. The scene at 
Germanna and Ely's fords during that night was an exhilarating one, for the troops were 
in excellent spirits, every man recognizing the success of the movement. So confident 
were Geneals Meade, Howard, and Slocum that they permitted their men to build immense 
fires by which to dry themselves and get warm after their passage through the cold water. 
For miles these fires burned, lighting up the banks of the Rapidan, their reflection being 
the first indication General Lee had of the presence of so large a body of troops in his 
rear. General Hooker was so enthusiastic over the success of the movement that he said 
to his staff: "The rebel army is now the legitimate property of the Army of the Poto- 
mac. They may as well pack up their haversacks and make for Richmond, and I shall be 
after them." His boast was a vain one, however, for bitter defeat awaited the Army of 
the Potomac and its vainglorious commander. 



374 THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



The plan of operations, as sketched by General Hooker, was an ingenious one. By 
placing three corps on the south side of the Rapidan River, he expected to throw Lee into 
confusion, then attack him on both front and rear. While Meade, Howard, and Slocum 
were marching to the Rapidan River, Couch, with two divisions of the Second Corps, 
threatened United States Ford, and Sedgwick made a feint nine or ten miles below Fred- 
ericksburg with the First, Third, and Sixth Corps. Having crossed the Rapidan, Meade 
marched through woods and fields for United States Ford. The Confederate guards were 
driven in, the ford uncovered, and Couch joined Meade. During Thursday, April 30, the 
right wing of Hooker's army was massed near the Chancellorsville House, while Sedgwick 
had crossed the river, with part of his command, below Fredericksburg. Sickles was or- 
dered up to Chancellorsville. and Reynolds followed, while Sedgwick and the Sixth Corps 
remained to engage Lee on liis old line. Lee's situation was apparent))- a precarious one, 
for he was compelled to change front to face seventy thousand men, with the Rappahan- 
nock, held by forty thousand m-n, in his rear, his communications with Richmond 
l)eing in the hands of Stoneman's cavalry. Yet Lee coolly faced the emergency, and b\- 
superior strategy dealt his opponent a stunning blow. 

On May 1 Ilookrr was readv f<)rl)attlr, but he wanted to get out of the dense woods 
and gain a wide stretch of open country near Robertson's Tavern. The Fifth Corps 
formed the left, Ciriftin's antl llumphre\'s divisions marching up the old river road, while 
Sykes' division of regulars advanced along the turnpike, closely followed by Hancock's 
division of the Second Corps. Slocum took an old plank road. All of these troops reached 
the neighborhood of Banks' Ford without firing a shot. When about a mile east of the 
Chancellorsville House Sykes encountered a tolerably strong Confederate force, but he 
drove it back and took the position assigned him. 

During this brief engagement an incident occurred which aptly illustrates the life of a 
soldier. Little Tommy Cullen was a drummer, and had caught a pony during the march 
from Kelley's Ford to the Rapidan. By permission of his colonel, the boy retained the 
animal to carry drums and knapsacks. When a Confederate battery opened on Sykes' di- 
vision the Federal line advanced, Tommy antl his pony being left in the rear with the rest 
of the drummers, on the banks of a small creek, where the surgeons had stationed their 
lield hospital. As the fight grew hot the boy mounted and crept up to the battle line on 
liis little steed. The artillery fire becoming severe, the Federal line had to fall l)ack a few 
hundred yards, and when Tommy's colonel saw him he ordered the boy to go back. But 
just at that moment the boy missed the face of his liruther in the company they both be- 
longed to. Asking what had happened to lim, he was told that the young man had been 
woundetl and was lying on the ground between the oj^posing lines. Away dashed Tommy, 
his sturdy pony carrying him over the grass in fine style. In a few moments he reached 
the line of dead and wounded men, soon finding Jim. Quickly dismounting, the little 
drummer assisted his brother to mount the pony, when back they came in safety, the boy 
running beside the animal to guide him. The six or seven thousand men who witnessed 
the gallant act cheered the brave little drummer most lustih', and it was voted that Tommy 
should keep his pony to lighten the fatigues of subsequent marches. 

Hooker's right had meanwhile taken up a strong position on a high ridge which over- 
looked the fields in the rear of the heights around Fredericksburg. Here the Federal com- 
mander seemed to have Lee in his grasp, but, to the astonishment of his corps commanders. 
Hooker suddenly decided to fall back on Chancellorsville, throw up intrenchments, and 
assume the defensive. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



375 




CHAPTER XXXV. 



FIRST DAY S liATTLE OF CHAXCELLURSVILLE. 



When General Lee learned, on April 29, that a strong Federal force liatl arrived on 
the line of the Rapidan, Jackson's Corps was at Hamilton's Crossing, near Massapomax 
Creek, McLaws' division stood at Fredericksburg, while Anderson lined up to face Meade. 
That night McLaws was ordered to join Anderson, leav- 
ing Barksdale's brigade to guard Fredericksburg. At 
daylight of May i Jackson started in the same direction 
with three divisions, to take command in that part of the 
field, Lee remaining to watch Sedgwick. (leneral Early 
was placed on Lee's right, near Hamilton's Crossing. It 
will thus be seen that both armies had been split in two. 

General McLaws joined Anderson at dawn of May 
I, and Jackson arrived about eight o'clock, when he 
began advancing to the right. This was while Hooker 
was falling back on Chancellorsville. Jackson soon dis- 
covered that Hooker's right did not extend to the Rappa- 
hannock River, so he decided to attack the Federal right 
while Anderson and McLaws kept the left and centre 
busy. To do this necessitated a march of fifteen miles, 
and cutting Lee's army into three sections. To conceal 
this counter Hanking movement Stuart's cavalry madi 
several feints, while McLaws and Anderson showed con- 
siderable activity. Jackson started with twenty-two thou- 




376 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



sand men early in the mornin_i; of Saturday, May 2. The columns marched with great 
Sliced and secrecy, Ixil did not entirely escape the attention ot tin- I-Yderals, for Jackson's 
ambulances and ammunition wagons were seen passing over a hill in front of General 
Sickles' line, ami General Birney detected a body of Confederates crossing Lewis' Creek. 
At first it was believed that the Confederates were retreating, so Sickles was ordered 
forward with two divisions to learn what was really going on in that direction. 

Hirnev's and Whipple's divisions, with Barlow's brigade, of Howard's corps, and Ran- 
dolph's battery, advanced briskly and engaged, capturing three or four hundred officers and 
men. As it was evident that Jackson was in strong force, Sickles made a vigorous assault, 
but Colonel Thompson Brown uncovered an entire battalion of artillery and opened a terrific 
fire, which seriously checked Sickles. By this time Jackson's main bod)- had gained such 




momentum that he could not be stopped. Pressing forward through the dense forest, this 
indomitable man passed on and reached his chosen ground an hour before sunset. 

Having reached the Furnace Road, Jackson's troops proceeded through the woods in 
silence until they came to the old plank road over which Slocum's Twelfth Corps had 
marched the day before. Here the Confederate general ascended a commanding height 
and coolly surveyed the Federal position, then ordering General Fitz Lee's cavalry brigade 
and General Paxton's infantry brigade to go forward over the plank road. Jackson led his 
main body through some dense undergrowth until he arrived at the turnpike. Here the 
strictest orders were given for secrecy. 

Moving along the turnpike until he was near Chancellorsville and on Howard's flank, 
Jackson formed his command in three lines. Redes', Dole's, Colquitt's, and Iverson's 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



377 



brigades made the first line; Colston's, Nicholls', and Jones' brigades the second, and 
A. P. Hill's division, the third line. One section of a mounted batter)' from Stuart's 
cavalry trotted quietly down the battered old turn[)ike in order to open the proposed sur- 
prise party in good style. Having massed his twenty thousand men, Jackson instructed 
General Rodes to make a rapid, headlong assault, while Cohpiitt and A. P. Hill were to 
move in on close support. 

The right of the P'ederal line was occupied by the Eleventh Corps under General 
Howard, his division commanders being Generals Devens, Schurz, and .Steinwehr. As 
the setting sun began reddening the horizon the Federals were cooking sup])er, and com- 
plete silence reigned all along the line. .Suddenly bugles began their shrill clamor in the 
lorest outside the l)reastworks, and before the Federals could fall in under arms Rodes' 




division leaped over the parapet and opened a merciless musketry tire. Both Colcpiitt and 
Hill followed. The Eleventh Corps broke and ran like a Hock of sheep. The Fifth Corps 
had held the right of the line during the night of May i, while Howard's men built their 
breastworks. At dawn Meade proceeded to Hooker's extreme left. When the crash of 
Jackson's musketry broke out on the cool evening air Meade's bugles soon sent his brigades 
racing down a narrow wood road toward the scene of conflict. Louder and louder grew the 
terrible musketry, followed by sharp and constant cannonading. 

The point of Jackson's attack was at Dowdall's Tavern, and as Howard's flank was 
completely turned, the three Confederate lines of battle smote the Federal ranks such 
terrific blows that the men threw away knapsacks, overcoats, muskets, and, in many 
instances, their haversacks. Then these demoralized troops rushed pell-mell across h e 
fields, with ammunition and commissary supply wagons, artillery pieces, caissons, mules, 



37^ 



THIi ME.'irORIAL WAR BOOK. 



horses, ami cattlt- all inixftl up amon<^ them. This miserable mob was closely followed by 
the Confederates, who o[)fncd a dradl\- tire from musket and cannon which did horrible 
execution. It was an awful anil disgraceful scene for the I'ederals. Hooker's first effort 
to preserve his line was to send General Berry's division to the ri<;ht, and it checked 
Jackson's further advance. Captain Best's batteries doing good service in the sudden 
emeni-fncv. Then, despite the growing darkness, a fierce battle was begun. General 
Sickles hail hurrit-d up from the Furnace, accompanied by Pleasanton and his cavalry. 
Coming up as Howard's corps rushed past. General Birney threw forward tiie Eighth 
Pennsvlvania, only to see it almost annihilated, ami its colonel fall, ridilled l)y l)ulKts. 
I'leasanton's artillery then galloped on the held, and twenty or thirty field pieces were soon 
at work. This artillery fire was responded to by the Confederate batteries as their infantry 




GtNEnAL View of Battiefi elo 



formed for the charge. But the effort was fruitless, for Pleasanton met the assault with 
grape and canister. Then night fell, and the rank and rile of both armies supposed that 
the fighting for that ilay was over, but for the first time during the war a battle was fought 
in these den.se \ irginia woods until near dawn, the movements of the various bodies of 
troops being made by the light of a tender May moon and the fitful Hashes of cannon and 
musket volleys. 

As the 1-ifth Corps emerged from the wooils the Eleventh Corps stood huddled 
together in a sort of pocket in the woods, where the a.xe of the settler had eaten a little 
deeper into the virgin forest. The leading regiments of Meade's corps used the bayonet 
as they tore a path through the struggling and cowering mass. There was no time to 
waste, no thought of mercy. Maddened by the sight of so much confusion, the l-'ifth Corps 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



379 



rushed through and deployed in line of battle, delivering a steady and effective musketry 
fire. In the gathering darkness we could see Rodes' division advancing in triumph across 
the fields. Word then ran along the Fifth Corps line to fire low, and as the musket volley 
was delivered the Confederate column melted away. Just then Weed's battery came 
thundering up, and as the pieces wheeled into position by sections on a knoll to the right 
of Sykes' division they opened a very rapid discharge of grape, which drove Rodes back 
in some confusion. 

The Fifth Corps now formed its line more deliberately, and we could see that the 
Eleventh Corps was being driven into our road, in order to get it out of the way. Then, as 
the moon rose above the tops of the trees, several Confederate batteries opened on our 
front, their shells crashing through the woods, but doing but little other damage. Three 




+iouse in which 
Stonewall Jacksoki died 



Federal batteries galloped forward and replied, the effect being a weird and striking one, 
for as the flashes of the cannon revealed the gunners at work the rolling smoke hid the 
moon and deepened the darkness. 

While this was going on Lee had grown active on his right, in order to engage 
Hooker's attention, but the effort was too feeble to be of any importance. General Berry's 
division, with Best's artillery, now attacked Jackson on the plank road, and so vigorous 
was the Federal movement that several of Howard's lost field guns were recaptured, and 
the Confederates were repulsed, being compelled to fall back nearly half a mile. Then the 
struggle ceased, only a few stray cannon on either side keeping up a muttering series of shell 
discharges. 

When this sanguinary night work began General Jackson was sitting on his horse 
in the middle of the turnpike road, anxiously waiting for A. P. Hill's division to come up. 



380 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



lust before General Hobart Ward's brigade made its charge Jackson rode forward with 
most of his staff to personally reconnoitre, first giving strict orders that his troops were not 
to fire unless cavalry approached. This was a fatal order. Riding through his picket 
lines, the General advanced to the Van Wert House, and then turned back over a side 
road. As he neared the Confederate picket line the General's mounted party was mis- 
taken for Federal cavalry, and, true to the orders received, three hundred muskets were 
discharired. Two of Jackson's aides fell dead from their saddles, and several others were 
wounded. Quickly turning, the General plunged through a dense undergrowth, only to 
receive another and more deadly volley, at a distance of thirty paces. Three bullets struck 




MAJGem.A.W. WHIPPLE 



MajGew.FC.BarloW 



Jackson, one passing through his right hand, the others shattering his left arm and severing 
the artery. Having passed through the lines, Jackson's men recognized their general, and 
he was lifted from his horse and laid under a tree. Then the Federals charged, actualh 
passing Jackson in the darkness, but the Confederates wanted their general, so the}- re- 
turned the charge furiously, and succeeded in regaining the ground long enough to pick him 
up. As the men were placing the wounded general on a litter a charge of grape and canister 
came tearing down the turnpike and killed one of the bearers. His fall threw the litter to the 
ground and increased Jackson's injury. He was carried to a hospital, where the arm was 
amputated, but he died on Sunday, May lo. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



THE SECdMi HAYS UAT'n.K HF ( HANCELLOKSVILLE. 

The position of the Army of the Potomac had now become a very critical one, for it 
was compelled to act strictly on the defensive, despite its superiority in numbers. Sedg- 
wick was still below Fredericksburg, with nearly twenty-four thousand men, so Hooker 
.sent him orders, late on Saturday night, to occupy the town, .seize Marye's Heights, and 
advance up the Chancellorsville plank road, which would Ijring the Si.xth Corps in rear of 
Jackson's command. In the meantime the P'ederal arm>- took up a new A-shaped line, it 
being so shortened that the wings rested securely on the Rappahannock River. Reynolds' 
I-'irst Corps occupied the extreme right. Sickles' Third Corps and Slocum's Twelfth Corps 
being in the centre, and Howard's Eleventh Corps, now reorganized into something like 
shape, being on the left. Meade's Fifth Corps lay behind Sickles' in reserve, while further 
in the rear stood two divisions of Couch's Second Corps, ready to move to either face of 
the A. Thus, si.xty thousand muskets were facing forty thousand. The assault by Jackson. 
though successful, had cost the Confederates dearly, for Lee's most trusted lieutenant was 
dying and Hill had been wounded by the fragment of a shell. " Jeb" Stuart had tempo- 
rarily succeeded Jackson, he being the ranking officer, but when he left his cavalry corps 
to take charge of the infantry Stuart hesitated regarding his movements, and sent an aide 
to Jackson asking instructions and advice. But the dying general could only say " He 
must use his own judgment," for he knew that for him there were to be no more battles. 

The morning of Sunday, May 3, found these one hundred thousand men facing each 
other in grim lines, but Hooker had made another fatal mistake in ordering Sickles to 
abandon his commanding position at Hazel Grove, because it was really the key to the 

Federal line. Scarcely had the Third Corps retired when Stuart seized the ground, recog- 
nizing its importance. Then began a battle that was terrible in its aspect and awful in its 
carnage, for the Confederates opened fire from over thirty cannon on the fields around 
the Chancellor House. After an hour's cannonading 

the Confederate infantry advanced in three strong 

lines. As their batteries paused for a moment the 

I*"ederal troops could hear the fierce yells of Lee's 

men as they came forward. Every field piece in the 

Confederate centre again opened, and amid a fierce 

shower of shells Sickles' men stood waiting for the 

charge. 

It was si.x o'clock, and a deafening crash of mus- 
ketry drowned even the sound of the opposing cannon 

as twenty thousand muskets were discharged in a 

simultaneous volley. Sickles' corps, consisting ol 

Birney's, Whipple's, and Williams' divisions, bore the 

Ijrunt of this onslaught, standing firm and doubling 

the volume of sound as they returned the voile)-. 

Captain Best had massed forty pieces of cannon m 

front of the Chancellor House, and was sweeping the 

road over which the Confederate column was advan- 
cing. Despite the storm of lead and iron poured 




3^2 THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



upon them, these Southern soldiers pressed onward. On— on the\- went, until Generals 
Birney and Berry massed their divisions on the right and left of Sickles' line and 
charged. The shock was tremendous, and the roar of weapons terrific, for here were 
forty thousand men in close combat, with nearly ninety cannon at work. Brave General 
Berry was killed at the head of his command. The Confederates stood fast and 
for nearly an hour the awful musketry continued without cessation. Then the Fed- 
erals reformed, and again charged, under cover of a furious artillerv fire from Sickles' 
and Slocums batteries, which decimated Stuart's ranks and drove him from his position 
With that tenacity so often displayed on these American battlefields the Confederates 
reformed ui their turn, and charging with impetuous fury, precipitated a fiercer stru^rgle 

Another hour passed, the fields and woods were filled with dead and wounded men yet 
still the hot fighting continued. Backward and forward ebbed and flowed the tide of battle ■ 
now the Pederals seemed victorious, then the Confederates gained ground when finalh' 
Stuart sent in every available man. and after a desperate struggle succeeded in capturinir 
Sickles position. ' '^ 

While Stuart was thus active Lee had ordered McLaws and Anderson to unite on 
-Stuarts right, at the same time opening on Slocum's line with several batteries posted at 
Hazel Grove, which shook that part of Hooker's line. Anderson then rushed up the plank 
road and struck Slocum. while McLaws attacked Hancock's division, which stood between 
Howard s and Slocum's corps. McLaws failed to shake Hancock, being in realitv repulsed 
but Anderson succeeded, after a desperate contest, in getting past the apex of the'Pederal A 
Ime, and so formed a junction with Stuart. Then Lee ordered a general advance alono- his 
entire line, and the battle raged with even greater fur.N-. Slocum and Sickles were "now 
compelled to give way, and they formed line around the Chancellor House The en 
gagement had been continued for over five hours, and the cannonading and musketrv 
did not pause for an instant on either side from six o'clock in the morning until two in 
the afternoon. The shrieks of shells as they flew through the air by hundreds, the steadv 
rolling musketry as whole divisions and corps opened fire, the crashing sound of falling 
trees as they were shattered by solid shot, the sudden reverberations of exploding ammif- 
n.fon or artillery caissons, the screams of disabled horses, the groans of wouifded and 
d>mg men. the shrill bugle notes, the hoarse commands of colonels-all these horrid and 
confusing sounds deafened the ears of those Federal soldiers who were not called on to 
join in the dreadful mclcc. 

During the movement made by Generals Anderson and .McLaws a solid shot struck 
one o the pil ars ot the Chancellor House. General Hooker happened to be lean n. 
aga.ns it and he was knocked down and stunned. This was a misfortune, for the Feder^ 
ann>- had, I-ctica ly. no commander for nearly an hour, and thus it was that neither 
Couch nor Meade had been ordered up to support Sickles and Slocum. As soon as Hooke 
revived he asked if Sedgwick had come up, and being answered in the negative ordered a 
new and shorter defensive line to be assumed. His left now extended bVond the Ely's 
bord road to Hunting Run. while his right rested on Scott's Dam, along Mineral Spr : 
Road. I hen there was a pause and silence in those Chancellorsville woods as the Fed" 
erals and Confederates rested. ' ""^ ^^" 

Meanwhile what had become of Sedgwick and his twentN-lour thousand men > H.v 

; f XTk roIdTed^'^f '^^'"^'■'""^'^^' " ''-' ""-^'^ ""-^^ -^^' advance o^r 
he plank road, Sedgwick got in motion, and entered Fredericksburg at daylight where 

.bbon s division of Couch's corps joined him. General Gouverneur K. U'arren who vis 

Hookers chief engineer, had been sent to .see the movement executed. It should be re 

membered that Jackson had left Early's four brigades and Barksdale's hr^.ll 

McLa.s division to guard Marye's Heights. As General Newton's division" advanTd 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



383 



under cover of a fog it reached the stone wall that had proved so fatal at the previous 
battle in December. The Confederate brigades under Barksdale and Hays then opened 
a strong musketry volley, which compelled Newton to retire. Sedgwick next attempted 
to turn Early's flanks, sending Gibbon along the river bank to attack the Confederate left, 
while Howe advanced on Hazel Run, which formed Early's right. Gibbon proceeded as 
far as the canal, finding it too full of water to cross, and as he was exposed to a heavy can- 
nonading from Taylor's Hill the Federal general was compelled to withdraw. A similar 
fate was encountered by Howe; consequently, both movements failed. Four hours had 
now been consumed, and Sedgwick decided to make a direct attack. Selecting Newton's 
division, it was sent forward, while Howe was to renew his effort on Hazel Run. Newton's 
columns consisted of the Thirty-ninth, Forty-third, and Sixty-seventh New York regiments, 




the Seventh Massachusetts, the Sixt\-hrst and Eighty-second Pennsylvania. The right- 
hand column was commanded by Colonel Spear; the left one, by Colonel Johns. They 
advanced over the plank road, while Colonel Burnham took four regiments to the extreme 
left, against the base of Marye's Heights. When within three hundred paces of the Con- 
federate line Early's batteries began firing canister, and as the F"ederals pressed on they 
were met by a murderous volley of musketry. Staggering for a moment, the Federals 
rushed forward, and by a desperate effort seized the crest. Colonels Spear and Johns and 
Majors Faxon, Bassett, and Haycock being killed. General Howe was equally successful, 
for he captured Lee's Hill, and as the Confederate position was no longer tenable, they fell 
back. Sedgwick now prepared to advance and join Hooker, who had by that time been 
driven to the position last described. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



General Le(; was preijaring- to ag^ain attack Hooker, hoping to drive him to the river, 
when a staff officer galloped up and announced Early's defeat. It was an awful emer- 
tfency. but the Confederate commander met it promptly. On the instant Wofford's, 
Kershaw's, Mahone's, and Semmes' brigades were sent, under General McLaws, to Early's 
assistance, with orders to intercept Sedgwick and prevent his further advance. The latter 
was now pressing forwanl toward Chancellorsville, and met McLaws at Salem Church, 
about tive miles from l'"rc-tiericksburg, the Confederates being posted in aline perpendicular 
to the plank road, with their artillery st) arranged as to cover the Hanks and enhlatle the 

ro 111. 

It was about four o'cKuk in the afternoon when Sedgwick ordered Brooke's tlivision to 
deplov across the road and advance, Newton ix-ing placed in support, while the Federal 
batteries openctl tire u]) the rcxul, shelling the woods on either side. This apparently 
had an effect, for McLaws' skirmishers fell back precipitatel)', and his artillery slackened its 
fn-e. Believing that he was still fighting Early's men, St-dgwick ordered a charge by Bart- 
lett's Ijricade. Away went the line with a cheer, meeting no obstacle until it arrived 
within ninety paces of the church, when the Confederates delivered a blinding volley slap 
in the faces of Bai'tlett's men. Lora moment the Federals were checked, but, obej-ing the 
shrill notes of their general's bugle, the brigade gathered itself together, ami with another 
cheer dashed on and surrounded a little schoolhouse, capturing all the Confederates en- 
sconced there, the main force falling with such force upon a Confederate regiment which 
was endeavoring to hold the road that Wilcox's brigade wavered, and a moment after the 
Federals had taken the position. 

Wilcox now threw forward the Ninth Alabama, which had been standing in reserve, 
and as they rusheil on Birtlett, delivering volleys at the distance of a few yards, they suc- 
ceeded in breaking the Federal line. Having turned the tide by this supreme effort, the 
Alabama men were promptly supported by the remainder of McLaws' line, and a general 
engagement followed, both sides fighting Avith desperation and bitter rage. Despite their 
valor and pertinacious grasp of the crest, the Federals were slowly but steadily driven 
back to the toll gate, where the battle had begun. Indeed, so furiously did McLaws' in- 
fantrv burst through the woods — their favorite method of fighting — that Sedgwick might 
have been driven clear to the river. The Sixth Corps batteries, however, found advan- 
tageous ground just then, anel sent such showers of shells with short-cut fuses that the 
Confederates were compelled to halt. A few sullen volleys of musketry were then ex- 
changed by the opposing lines as the shades of evening mercifully drew a curtain over the 
bloody field, and the men of both armies flung themselves on the earth, exhausted by the 
dreadful fatigues of the day. 

When the sun rose on JNIonday morning. May 4, .Sedgwick found himself not only cut 
off from joining Hooker, but facing the main body of Lee's army, for the Confederate 
commander had detached Anderson's entire division and sent it to assist McLaws and 
Early. This left only Jackson's three divisions on Hooker's front, of which fact the Fed- 
eral general was, of course, ignorant, for he remained cooped up in his intrenchments be- 
fore a force not half his own strength. At sunrise, General Lee, who had arrived 
in person at Salem Church, made up a new line, which threw Sedgwick in sudden 
peril. The latter soon became aware that heav\' bodies of Confederates were rapidly 
[massing from their left to their right, and he asked General Hooker for assistance. 
Chafing under his own failure, Hooker curtly informed Sedgwick that he must get out of 
his scrape the best way he could, for no help wouUl be sent him. 

Early speedily got to work and recaptured Marye's Heights without much difficulty 
or loss, so that Sedgwick was compelled to shorten his line and cover flanks' Ford, in an- 
ticipation of recrossing the Rappahannock River. Anderson's division did not arrive at 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



385 



Salem Churcli until noon, the subsequent m;ui(euvres preparatory to an attack occupying 
the remainder of the afternoon. At six o'clock, however, Lee was ready. Considerable 
skirmishino- had been going on, and as the Confederate musketry grew heavier Sedgwick 
saw that he was to Ite attacked on both his front and rear. Notifying Hooker that he 
coulil no longer hokl his precarious position, the commanding general gave an ungra- 
cious permission for the Sixth Corps to recross the river. 

Lee now advanced in splendid style, and his men made a spirited charge, which was 
stubbornl}- resisted by the Federals, both commands suffering considerable loss. Though 
it fought hard, the Sixth Corps was slowly pressed toward the river, barely succeeding 
in retaining possession of Banks' k\)rd. Night falling, the fighting again ceased, and 
before dawn of Tuesday Sedgwick had placed the Rappahannock River between him 




iiDENT Lincoln in 



and Lee. During the three days he had been trying to reach Hooker General .Sedg- 
wick had lost over one-fifth of his strength. 

The strange spectacle was thus presented of an army of sevent)' thousand men di\ id- 
ing another one hundred thousand strong and whipping each section in detail, (ieneral 
Lee had taken desperate chances. He had cut his own army into three parts, turning 
Hooker's flank with the one under |ackson ; then, uniting his left and centre, he drove the 
Federal army half-way to the river. Next he transferred his centre to his right and 
smashed Sedgwick, rendering him unable to join Hooker's main force. It was a brilliant 
exhibition of strategy, supported by the devotion and courage of his troops. 

Tuesday morning. May 3, found Hooker still inactive, and although his corps com- 
manders were anxious for another advance with the entire army consolidated, the General 
decided to retreat, llnknown to the men, the engineers and axemen were set to work 
cutting roads through the woods toward the river, and they repaired and strengthened 



^S6 



77//:' .U/:.}rOK/.l/. ir.-lA' /^'OOk'. 



the brido-es on the turnpike and plank nnuls for tin; passage of artillery. Meanwhile, the 
troops were kept busy erecting breastworks from 1 hinting Run to Scott's Dam. a distanci- 
of over three miles. 

Havin^i" seen that Sedgwick had crossed the river. Lee repeated his oKl movement and 
sent Mc Laws' and Anderson's divisions back to Chancellorsville, intending to attack 
Hooker with every man he could muster. But as McLaws and Anderson were compelled 
to march slowly, the Confederate army (.lid not assemble at Chancellorsville until nearly 
noon. Then a heavy rain began falling, and continued until after nightfall. The creeks 
soon overflowed, and the flats became shallow lakes, so military movements were impossible. 

The rain storm placed Hooker's army in greater peril than ever, for the Rappahan- 
nock began rising so rapidly that the Federal pontoon bridges were in danger of destruc- 
tion. The question now was. could the several corps get across before communication 
was cut oft ? A council was called, and there was a wide difiference of opinion among the 
i^enerals. A few of the more stubborn insisted that the army should remain and fight ; 
others were sick of the indecision displayed by their commander, and wanted to retire while 
there was time. This counsel best suited Hooker, in his anxious and perturbed condition, 
so the order was given, and the splendid army must confess itself beaten. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



3^7 



ciiArrKR xxxx'ii. 



RKTRKAT OK IIDOKKKS .\k^[^■ A( K( )S.S THE RA I'l'A 1 lAWdCK. 



In the midst of a pouring rain which soon reduced the soft X'irginia roads to that 
sticky mud so famihar to Northern and Southern troops the ammunition and commissary 
wagons l)(;gan moving toward the ri\er. As strict orders had been given to make the 
movement as (|uietl)- as possible,, the Federal teamsters displaj'ed unusual patience with 
their teams as the poor brutes struggled through the mud, now hub-deep. It took the 
whole afternoon for the reserve trains to get across the river, for the pontoon bridt>-es were 
very shaky and unsafe. None of the fighting corps knew that a retrograde movi ment had 
been decided upon, even the brigade and regimental commanders being kept in iimorance 
until alnn)st the last moment. .Sullen and disconsolate, the soldiers of the Arm)- of the 
Potomac stood all day shivering arouml thtnr spluttering fires and listening to the rain- 
drops pattering overhead among the tender leaves of the trees. A heavy mist made the 
air raw and cold ; a deep silence prevailed, in utter contrast to the turmoil of the previous 
days. It was then remembered that during Sunday these woods had caught fire, when 
hundretls of wounded Confederates and Federals were burned to death. 

Late in the afternoon a change occurred in the tlisposition of the different corps, but 
the men took ver\- little interest in it. This change h-ft the centre of Hooker's line 
uncovered, so the I'ifth Corps was ordered forward to fill it. IJy this time the rain had 
slackened and the fires burned a little brighter, making the men more comfortable and 
cheerful. Then darkness crept slowl)' over field and forest, and the soldiers waited 
for orders. The road in which the Fifth Corps v.'as resting had remained empt\- all tlaj- long. 
Hour after hour passed, yet there were no signs of a hostile movement such as had been 
made by the Confederates during the previous nights, and it was nearl)- midnight before 
anything happened to break the monoton\- of the long vigil. Then there was a curious 
muffled sound in the distance which surprised the men 
who remained awake, for it was unlike anything they had 
ever heard since donning the uniform. Closer and closer 
came this strange sound, until finally the tread of horses 
coukl be distinguished. As the slee|)ing men roused uj) 
and listened with their comrades the adx'ance of the re- 
serve batteries of artillery came in sight. When the first 
cannon and caisson passed the men noticed that the heav\ 
wheels were wrapped in blankets. The mufHed sound was 
now explained, and a murmur ran along the line of the 
corps — "A retreat! We are going back to b^ilmouth !" 

Such, indeed, was the fact, and for oxer an luiur did 
these ponderous batteries occupy the road. Then came 
ordnance supply trains, the wagon wheels also swathed in 
strips f)f blankets. Before these canvas-covered vehicles 
had all ])assed in the uncertain light ot the now deserted 
fires a column of infantry went hurrying past. It was the 
Third Corps, and the men told us that the right of the 
army line had been abandoned. A feeling of sadness 
now seized every heart, for it was then known that all our 




THE MEMOR/Af. WAR. BOOK. 



faii'ui- hiid been endured for no purpose, that the thousands of lives lost had been wasted, 
that our wounded comrades were groaning without hope of that recompense which couk > 
with the knowledge that victory has been won. As the Third Corps turned down a narrow 
side road leading to United States Ford the Second Corps appeared from another direction 
and marched straight through the dense forest, following, as we subsequently discovered, a 
"blazed "path carefully selected for them by the engineers. Then came more artillery 
and ordnance wagons pressing forward in eager haste, with the First Corps tramping 
beside them, to follow the Second in its woody road. The movement had evidently been 
carefuUv planned, for there was no apparent confusion, only a constant, feverish hurry. 

While the men of the F"ifth Corps were wondering when their turn would come to 
move to the rear, orders were passed along the line to replenish the fires and make them burn 
brighter. As the soldiers gloomily tore down the interior supports of the breastworks and 
piled the logs on the glowing embers the sky on our right became illuminated by a great 
glow, showing us that similar work was going on there. So large did the Fifth Corps line 
of fires become that the road was clearly defined, and we could see every face as it hurried 
past. By three o'clock in the morning onh' a few weary stragglers and a disabled wagon 
were to be seen. Then the order came to " fall in," and in a few minutes the Fifth Cori)s 
was in motion, on the route taken by the F"irst and Second corps, which was easily dis- 
cerned, for the tread of so many thousands of armed men had brushed aside the accumu- 
lation of dead leaves, leaving a black path along the line of blazed trees. Soon after enter- 
ing the forest we came to the rude tables built for the surgeons. Around these structures 
lay ghastly heaps of human legs and arms. 

Just as the day began breaking a drizzling rain fell, and by the time the corps passed into 
some open fields dotted with young pines the drops grew heavier. Forming line of battle 
to protect the ford, we could discern the other corps mo\ ing rapidly and irregularly toward 
the pontoon bridges. But no sign of any Confederate force was to be seen, though it w as 
now broad daylight, and the entire army got safely across the swollen and muddy Rappa- 
hannock River, the Fifth Corps remaining on the Fredericksburg side. Finally General 
Meade came riding along the rear of the line, and as he passed, brigade after brigade broke 
off and headed for the ford, until at length the whole command got across. The retreat 
had been accomplished, and every regiment received orders to march to its respective camp. 

By nine o'clock the rain ceased, but the roads to Falmouth were almost knee-deep in 
mud, so the troops took to the woods, leaving the roads filled with staggering wagons and 
toiling cannon. Then demoralization seized the entire army. Regiments missed their bri- 
gade headquarter staffs, colonels lost their regiments, captains their companies. The reins 
of discipline were broken, every man and officer became a straggler. Had Lee pushed 
forward over the river that day he could have captured thirty thousand men with ease, but 
the Army of the Potomac had left its stern imprint upon the Army of Northern Virginia, 
and the Confederates were content to see their opponents go away in peace. The 
appearance of the Federal army during that memorable day was in woful contrast to 
the one it made when President Lincoln had reviewed it in holiday attire only a fortnight 
before. Some of the men did not reach camp until the third day, and colonels were pleased 
if they had enough muskets to furnish details for the pickets. But scarcely had the 
commands fairly assembled than the entire army recovered, and with wonderful elasticity 
resumed its perfect organization and mobile power. 

The Chancellorsville campaign had been a costly one to both armies. General 
Hooker's loss was seventeen thousand one hundred and ninety-seven men killed, wounded, 
and missing, of which nearly si.\ thousand had been captured by the enemy, together with 
fourteen cannons and over nineteen thousand muskets. General Lee lost nearly fifteen 
thousand men. of whom thirty-five hundred were prisoners in the hands of the Federals. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



389 




3'P 



THE ^MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



\ 




CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



GENERAL LEES SECOND INVASION OF MAUVI.AND AND PENNSYLVANIA. 

Hooker's and Lee's armies remained quiet during the remainder of May, 1863, for 
neither command was in a condition to assume an offensive attitude. The Army of the 
Potomac lost all of its two years' service men, and its strength did not reach one hundred 
thousand. The Army of Northern Virginia was, however, reinforced by Longstreet's 
corps and a rigid conscription throughout the South, so that Lee mustered nearl)- ninety 
thousand men. Jackson being dead, the Confederate army was reorganized into three 
corps, under Ewcll, Hill, and Longstreet. \n the beginning of June Hooker became 
convinced that Lee intended an active movement, but could not discover his purpose. 
With the double purpose of watching his antagonist and removing his troops from their 
Winter camps. Hooker threw his seven corps along the banks of the Rappahannock from 
Franklin's Crossing, below Fredericksburg, as far up as Keller's P'ord. 

The Confederate Government had been endeaxoring for months to induce England to 
recognize it as a separate nation, but learned that it must tirst conquer Northern territory. 
Led by this ignis faliius. General Lee was instructed to again invade Maryland and Penn- 
sylvania. In order to mask his proposed movement and gain headway, Lee started two of 
Longstreet's divisions on June 3, under Hood and McLaws, toward Culpep'^er Court 
House. Ewell's corps marched after them during the ne.xt two days, while A. P. Hill re- 
mained at Fredericksburg to hold Hooker's attention. On fune 6 Sedgwick crossed the 
rixcr and made a reconnaissance, but was met by Hill with such stubbornness that the 
P"e(l<M-als were completely deceived. 

On June 9 General Pleasanton started with lUifortl's and (ircgg's divisions of cavalry, 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 391 

and crossing at Kelley's and Beverley fords, rode forward toward Culpepper, only to find 
the Confederate cavalry marching toward Brandy Station to cover the advance of Long- 
street's and Ewell's corps. General Buford was on Pleasanton's right, and began fighting 
General Jones' brigade, which retired until Wade Hampton's and W. H. F". Lee's brio-ades 
came to its support. Then a good-sized battle ensued, as Gregg, coming up from Kelley's 
Ford, struck Stuart's rear. The Confederate general turned like a tiger and flung his 
whole force upon Gregg, but Buford was not so easily shaken off. The result was a genu- 
ine cavalry combat, in which fully twenty thousand sabres and carbines were used. The 
Federals seized the heights of Brandy, and, as the Confederates fell back, Pleasanton re- 
tired across the Rappahannock. 

Captain George A. Custer was a member of General Pleasanton's staff. He was even 
then noted for his daring and fearless bravery. At a critical moment during this battle 
Custer was called upon to perform a brilliant and dangerous feat. The Confederate cavalry 
had succeeded in breaking a part of the P""ederal line on Pleasanton's right, and .Stuart threw 
forward a couple of his batteries to enfilade the Federal centre, in hopes of throwino- it 



^ MAJ (iEN,D.Ml"EGG. ^^^' ^^^' J' SyORD. 

into confusion. The shell and shot were beginning to tell, when General Pleasanton 
turned in his saddle and called Cusler. 

The young captain was by the General's side in a second, with his hand at the 
visor of his braided cap. 

"Mr. Custer," said the General, quietly, "will you please ride over to our right and 
get some of our batteries in position to reply to these Infernal Rebel guns?" 

Captain Custer bowed as he put spurs to his steed, which speedily dashed over 
the field in response to the harsh summons. A heavy bank of white smoke had begun to 
hide the Confederate artillery, but through its density bright flashes were visible as each 
gun, was served. On — on, Custer galloped. Shell and round shot, bullets and grape, 
shrieked and whistled through the air, Init the \'oung officer seemed to bear a charmed 
life, for he remained untouched. The thunder of the cannon and the crash of musket 
and carbine volleys deafened the ear, and it seemed impossible that the aide could escape. 

" I wonder if he will be able to get there," muttered Pleasanton, as he gnawed his mus- 
tache and watched Custer through his field glass. 

Whole ranks of horse and infantry went down as the howling shells burst over their 
heads, yet Custer passed on unharmed, until he was finally lost to view in the distance. 



2^3 THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



" Oh, if he only reaches the batteries," exclaimed General Pleasanton, as he turned to 
sec what the enemy was doing on his left. 

I'ive minutes passed, then ten, yet no si;j;n of the i'cdend l)atteries to takct their part 
in the contemplated duel. Custer must have fallen, and the anxious general looked again 
for another aide to send. 

"I'm afraid Custer has been hit," said he to )-oung 1 )ahlgren, who had ridden up. 

" I wish you would " 

"The batteries are coming up, sir," answered Dahlgren, pointing to the hederal guns 
as thev emero-ed from the bank of smoke and began rai)itlly wheeling into position, each 
piece being loaded and tired as the caissons drf)|)ped to the rear. 

" So they are." replied General Pleasanton. " It's all right." 

"The guns have gone into action, sir," said Captain Custer, with another salute, as 
he rude up to the clump of trees. 

"So I see, sir," responded the General. "Thank )-ou, Mr. Custer." 

There was nothing more said, for a battlefield is fidl of danger, and Captain Custer 
had merely done his duty. 

General Hooker's scouts soon confirmed Pleasanton's information regarding the Con- 
fede ate movements, and he at once set his corps in motion along the line of the Rappa- 
hannock Railroad, the troops again passing over ground that many remembered seeing 
during Pope's campaign. Lee's actual movement had begun on June lo, Hooker's on the 
ij;th. Three days after, the Federal army was massed at Fairfax Court House and Man- 
assas, the Fifth Corps being at Aldie Gap, supporting Pleasanton, who commanded the 
cavalry corps. Early was now crossing the Potomac, and the remainder of the Army of 
Northern Virginia was between Winchester, in the Shenandoah Valley, and the Gunpowder 
River, but nobody could tell what Lee was aiming at, his movements being somewhat 
different from those adopted in the Antietam campaign. 

While Imboden's division was sent toward Romney, Rodes' division advanced on Win- 
chester, where General Milroy stood with seven thousand men and a few pieces of artil- 
lery. Milroy fought Rodes with vigor, but Longstreet coming up, the Federal general 
tried to reach Harper's Ferry, but was surrounded and compelled to surrender with four 
thousand men, the remainder making their escape. The Confederates also captured three 
hundred wagons and over one thousand horses and mules. Harper's Ferry and Maryland 
Heights were soon occupied, and Lee's army crossetl the Potomac into Mar) land. 

The same feeling of panic seized the people of the Northern States as had been 
exhibited on Lee's first invasion. President Lincoln called on the State of Pennsylvania 
for fifty thousand militia ; Ohio, thirty thousand ; New \'ork, twenty thousand ; Maryland 
and West Virginia, ten thousand each. This call was |)romptlv responded to, while in 
lialtimore, Harrisburg, and Pittsburg the wildest excitement prevailed. 

By June 26 the entire Confederate army was across the Potomac, and Hooker ad- 
vanced to Frederick. Then there came another of those disputes between Halleck and 
his subordinates. General Hooker had succeeded in obtaining Halleck's consent that the 
troops under Heintzelman and Schenck should be added to his army, but when he sug- 
gested that Slocum and his corps be sent into the Cumlierland X'alley for a demonstration 
on Lee's rear Halleck protested. It was a sad diUnuua. Ihe Arm\- of the Potomac lay 
massed in and around the city of Frederick, while Lee was rushing toward the Suscpie- 
hanna. As Halleck would not budge, Hooker resigned his command, requesting instant 
release from further responsibility. There being no time to lose, the President accepted 
Hooker's resignation, and appointed General George G. Meade, of the Fifth Corps, to the 
chief command. Thus in an hour the army changed leaders, though in the midst of an 
important and momentous campaign. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



393 




AT HEADliUAKTEKS, ,\ 1< M V uF IHE PoTOMAC, JUNE, iStiJ. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




CHAPTER XXXIX. 



TIIK I'KHKRAI. AM) Ci )N l-i:i (KKA li: AKMIKS MAXiKUVKlM; lOR KATTLE. 



It was with curious i-niolions that tlu- Arnu' of the Potomac broke ranks after listen- 
ino- to the bulletins of the retirinj;- general and his successor. Sitting around their fires, 
the men freel}- discussed the situation, finally reachiny^ the conclusion that everything 
would come out all right. General Sykes, who had so long headed the Regular Division, 
succeeded Meade in command of the Fifth Corps, and Romeyn B. Ayres filled Sykes' old 
position. Piancock was gi\(n the .Second Corps, Couch being assigned to the Depart- 
ment of the Sus([uehanna. It was soon noticed that tlie soldiers were cleaning their 
weapons ami o\erhauling their ammunition, a silent and pregnant sign thatthe\- were ready 
for another i)attle. 

General Meade was of a vtry modest nature. When the command of the Army of 
the Potomac was thrust upon him he accepted the trust with reluctance, for Meade had 
made for himself an honorable record as a corps commander, and he did not seek higher 
or greater responsibilit\-. But once he took commaml of the famous army his mind began 
to expand, and he seemed to visibly grow in pin sical and mental stature. 

"I shall never forget," said he to the writer at Cape Maw in 1S70, wliile we w(;re 
enjoying the hospitality of the New York Seventh Regiment and discussing the declara- 
tion of war between !•" ranee and Germany, announc(?d that day "I .shall never forget the 
day I received President Lincoln's order to relieve Hooker. .\s )i)u will remember, we 
had advanced as far as P'rederick Cit_\-, and our movements seemed to be all right, but the 
removal of Hooker was a great surprise to me. When I met him, foe said he was glad to 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



395 




StKNEs Ai Hanover JuNrrioN, Pa., and Emmettsburg. Mn. 



:.9C' 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



know tlial I was to be his successor, but he added, 'George, you will tlml it an awful 
responsibility.' Joe Hooker never spoke a truer word than that. I know, as no other 
man knows, what a weiiji^ht I carried through that Gettysburg campaign. I thank God we 
won, but I can assure )ou no man was more grateful than myself when Lieutenant-Gencral 
Grant decided to remain with me during the 1864 campaign, and so take from my shoulders 
the inlhience of Washington. Whatever fame I may have gained during that awful Sum- 
mer movement from the Rapidan to the James was easier won than that I received for the 
battle of Gettysburg and the movements that followed it. Only those who have borne 
the burden of high militar\- command can understand its crusiiing weight. It is not the 
sacrifice of iumian life that appalls a general. It is the fear that he may not succeed after 
making the sacrifice, and the knowledge that failure means the loss of thousands upon 
thousantls of additional lives." 

Meade was one of the most perfect riders in the service. He sat erect at all times, 
and it was an inspiring sight to see him gallop past a halted corps. In answer to the 
tumultuous cheers that invariably greeted him on such occasions, he would lift his braided 
cap, and, holding it high above his head, pass through the ranks of his men like a meteor. 




Meade took good care that his chargers were capable of speed and endurance, and he was 
very careful of them. He was born at Barcelona, Spain, his .parents happening to reside 
there at the time. At the age of twenty he graduated from West Point, in 1835, and 
resigned from the arm\- in 1836. He re-entered the service in 184::, and won distinction 
during the Mexican War, especially at Monterey and Palo Alto. During the Civil War 
he had alread)' distinguished himself on the Peninsula antl at Antietam under McClellan, 
at F"redericksburg under Burnside, and at Chancellorsville under Hooker. 

During the forenoon of June 29 Meade gave the order for his several corps to march 
out of Frederick City. The First and Eleventh corps were to move to Emmettsburg, the 
Second to Erizzleburg, the Third and Twelfth to Taneytown, the Fifth to Union, and the 
Si.xth to Windsor. As it was desired that the men should see their new commanding general, 
and there being no time or opportunity for a review, the corps marched from their bivouac 
camps into the quaint old-fashioned town and passed before General Meade and his staff. 
There was no cheering, no fuss, but as the General lifted his cap now and then to a corps, 
division, or brigade commander those who carried muskets took the act as a salute to the 
entire command. F"rom that hour Meade had won the love and admiration of his troops. 

By two o'clock in the afternoon the whole army was in active motion. The sound 
of bugle ainl ilnun filled the air as regiment after regiment passed into the road selected 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



397 



for it and fell into its brigade position. The scene was an inspiring one, for never before 
in its history had the Army of the Potomac set out for a battle-ground in one o-rand 
movement. Each command had its separate route, but as the several corps got clear of 
Frederick City the men of the Fifth Corps, being on a high ridge, could see the whole 
army as it advanced. Just below, to the left, marched Sedgwick's Si.xth Corps, beyond it, 
on a diverging road, was Hancock's trefoil banners, while further on rode Sickles with the 
Third Corps. On the right of the .^ifth streamed the long column of the Eleventh Corps 
under Howard, and in the fields beside him tramped the Twelfth, with Slocum at its head. 
Away off in the far distance beyond the Third Corps could be distinguished the glitter 
of the muskets of the old First Corps, under Rejnolds, while between it and its 
neighbor rose a swiftly moving cloud of dust which betrayed the rapid movement (jf 




Pleasanton's cavalry, as the four great divisions of veteran horsemen rode forward to 
cover the ad\^ance of the army and uncover Lee's movements. 

With the rays of the setting sun glistening on thousands of muskets and sabres, and 
brightening the faded colors in the various brigade and regimental ensigns, with the sound 
of many voices filling the warm afternoon air, the martial picture was one never to be 
forgotten by those who saw it. The most striking feature of this imposing march was the 
reserve artillery, which rumbled along a wide turnpike road in close order. There were 
over two hundred and sixty guns, with their attendant caisson carriages and forges. This 
line of cannon was full)' six miles long. On other roads were passing three or four long 
lines of canvas-covered wagons, carrying ammunition, food, and other necessary supplies. 
With such a broad expanse of canvas, these wagons had the appearance of a field of tents 



,,w THE MliMORJAI. WAR /:00K. 



in inotiun. Thus did the arni\' start unilc-r its new commander to tr\- issue once more w ilh 
the brave and resolute antagonist it hail so oft(-n faced on \'ir<;inia antl Maryland hattleliclds. 
Strii)ped for battle, every man in the full vigor ot manhood, strong and health), the Army 
of the Potomac was on that day a magnificent bod) of soldiers, one huiKhcd thousand 
stronc. Durino' that afternoon and part of the night the several corps n-ached their 
different destinations, and after a few hours' rest and sleep, the columns were in motion 
before daylight of June 30. 

Both Meade and Lee were ignorant of each other's purpose or position. Lee sup- 
posetl that the advance of the b'ederal army was at South Mountain, while Meade believed 
that the Confederate columns were pushing northward to the Susquehanna River. Instead 
of this, Lee was concentrating his forces on the east side of the South Mountain range. 
'The achance on I larrisljurg was gi\en up, Longstreet and llill being ordered to march 
from Chambersburg ihrough the mountain jiasses toward ( jett\sburg. Ewell was also 
counte-rmarciiing from N'ork and Carlisle to the same point of rendezvous. 

Meade was meanwhile extending a counter-movement against the threatened .Susque- 
hanna invasion, but learning from a scout, at a late hour on the night of June 30, the true 
meaning of Lee's operations, he changed the direction of his own marching columns. 
Ceneral Re) noUls was ordered to hold Gettysburg with his own corps, and those of 
1 lowartl and Sickles, as a mask for the rest of the army to take position along the line of 
Pipe Creek. Sedgwick's Sixth Corps was sent to INLanchester, Slocum's Twelfth and 
.Sykes' Fifth Corps moved to Two Taverns and Hanover, Hancock's Second Corps going 
to Taneytown, where Meade established his headijuarters. Accustomed as was the army 
to rapid and long marches, these apparently confused movements taxed its strength and 
endurance to the utmost, for all of the corps had covered from twent)--five to thirt)'-hve 
miles each day since leaving the Rappahannock Ri\er. 

Early on the morning of |ul)- i the F"irst and Eleventh Corps reached Marsh Creek, 
four miles from Gettj'sburg ; the Fifth was thirty-odd miles from Hanover, crossing a 
spur of the Catoctin mountain range ; the Sixth was really marching away from Gettys- 
burg, for when Sedgwick received his summons he had to cover thirty-eight miles in order 
to reach the battlefield. Slocum's Twelfth and .Sickles' Third Corps were within striking 
distance of Reynolds, while Hancock was ten miles from Tane)town and twenty-three 
from Gettysburg. Lee's troops had passed through the .South Mountain gaps the night 
before, and were pushing forward to strike the Arm)- of the Potomac before it could con- 
centrate. Both the army commanders were now fencing for an opening. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



399 




CHAPTER XL. 



GETTYSBURG THP: FIGHT ( )X SEMINARY RIDGE. 



None of the corps commanders had instructions to bring- on an engagement. Conse- 
quentl)', when Reynolds did meet the enemy he aimetl more at holding- his own command 
together than making a decided fight. But on that 
eventful Wednesday morning, July i, events were 
so shaping themselves that Gettysburg became 
forever an historical name. General Buford's di- 
vision of cavalr\' had been occupying the town for 
two days, and as his videttes reported the approach 
of a strong Confederate column Buford advanced 
his brigades to the vicinity of Willoughby Run, his 
line crossing the Chambersburg road. Seminary 
Ridge was on his west and rear, nearl)' two miles 
away. -Scarcely had the cavalry division assumed 
its position when General Heth's division, of Hill's 
corps, came up the Chambersburg road, the rest of 
Hill's and Longstreet's commands being in the rear. 

General Buford saw at a glance that battle was 
inevitable. Sending an aide galloping to General 
Reynolds with a message that he was about to 
engage, and would endeavor to kee[) the Confed- 
erates in check, Buford made a skilful deployment 




tH4*fcr^[S^atBAt)t: . 



40U 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



and opened fire. Heth did not make a vigorous response, for he was waiting- for Hill 
to come up, so Buford had not lost much ground when (General Reynolds arrived on 
the scene with General Wadsworth's division. As Wadsworth's men went forward tin; 
cavalry was being pressed, so the division rapidly deployed, and Reynolds sent word to 
Howard to come up as speedily as possible. Hall's battery took position alongside the 
Cashtown road and began work. Cutler's brigade formed line of battle on the right of 
the road, while Meredith's brigade went into a Int of woods that skirted Willoughby 
Run, on the left. As soon as the line was formed General Reynolds gave the order to 
charoe, ^foing forward himself. The brigades obeyed with a clicer, when suiUlcnly 
Reynolds fell from his saddle, mortally wounded. A bullet had cut the jugular vein in 
his neck, and the General died before he could be removed from the field. 







(ienerdi Mw(]e5 Staff. 



^^(^cnAPi^^ 



"Ronton. 



Major-Genebal G. G. Meade's Stafk a- 

The command now fell to Doubleday, who continueil the movement. Meredith's 
britrade struck Archer's brigade on the flank as It was crossing Willoughby Run, the ap- 
pearance of the Federal infantry being such a surprise to the Confederates that General 
Archer and over four hundred of his men were taken prisoners. Cutler's brigade met a deter- 
mined resistance, and the struggle was a hot one. .\s Hall's battery was delivering a gall- 
ing fire, the order was given by General Heth to seize it, but as the Confederates advanced 
on the Federal guns the Sixth Wisconsin ami the 1-^ourteenth New York charged, being 
joined by the Ninety-fifth New York. As the two lines came together two Mississippi 
regiments were surrounded and captured with their battle flags. 

Desperate as had been the fighting, it was merely the prelude to a more sanguinary 
combat, for both I'^ederals and Confederates were receiving reinforcements. Rowlej's 
and Rol)inson's tlivisions of the First Corps were the first to come up. Robinson took 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



401 



position on Seminary Ridge, while Rowley went to the assistance of Cutler and Mere- 
dith. General Hill had by this time arrived, bringing with him Pender's division. Both 
sides were busy forming line as General Howard galloped on the ground, when, being the 
ranking officer, he took cominantl of the PVderal forces. He was followed by Barlow's 
and .Schurz's divisions, the latter teinporaril\- under command of General Schimmelpfennig, 
Schurz having gone to the head of the corps. Both divisions were sent to the right of 
the First Corps, thus prolonging the Federal line on the approaches to Gettysburg, while 
Von Steinwehr's division went to Cemetery Ridge as reserve. These dispositions were in 
accordance with the plan laid down by Reynolds just before he was killed. 

Howard did not reach the field until one o'clock, and it was two before his line was 
perfected. At three, Ewell's corps (formerly Jackson's) came up the York Road, turned 
into the woods, and fell upon Howard's right. Early's division struck General Francis C 




8rio(ien(]-j5(dnrwr(J. 



Barlow, while Rodes' division formed a junction with Hill's corps. Rodes succeeded in 
trettin" possession of Oak Hill, which enabled him to deliver a destructive artillery fire. 
The Confederates then advanced all along their line, and as they were two to one, both 
of Howard's wings had to give way after a stubborn resistance. General Barlow was 
severely wounded and made a prisoner. For a time he believed he was dying, and calmly 
o-ave his last instructions to a tender-hearted Confederate ofificer. Ewell now doubled up 
the Federal line, and drove it through Gettysburg, capturing nearly five thousand pris- 
oners. Doubleday, Robinson, and Wadsworth kept the First Corps together, but when 
Howard's corps was driven back Doubleday abandoned .Seminary Ridge and joined How- 
ard, the movement being neatly and successfully performed. 

The Confederates being in possession of the town of Gettysburg, Howard decided 
to mass his two shattered corps on Cemetery Ridge, where General Steinwehr had made 
admirable disposition of his artillery and infantrj-. Hece the five divisions rested. 



402 



THE MKMORJAL WAR HOOK. 



General Meade was at Taneytown when aides galloped up Id announce the opening 
of a decisive battle and \\u- death of I^eynolds. General Hancock's corps was re-sting near 
by so Meade orderetl it put into motion, telling Hancock to leave; his command with 
General Gibbon ami lun-r\' forwartl in an ambulance; to elecicK- what shouKI be done. It 
was nearly four o'clock wh(;n Hancock reached Cemett;ry Ridge, finding that Howard was 
makin*'" (""ood disposition of his troops. To Hancock's surprise, the Confederates contented 
themselves with the possession of the Gettysburg town. About sunset General Slocum 
arrived with the Twelfth Corps, and assumed command, as senior officer on the field, Han- 
cock returning to Mead(; with his report. As soon as the commanding general understood 
the gravity of the situation he pvit all of his army corps in motion. The First, Eleventh, 
and Twelfth were alreatlv on th(; ground ; the Third arriveil after sunset, the Second about 




midnight. The Fifth Corps was at Hanover, Pa., eighteen miles away ; the Sixth at Man- 
chester, thirty-eight miles distant. Meade ordered the commissary and ordnance trains to 
Westminster, and reached the battlefield about one o'clock on the morning of July 2. 

The l-'ifth Corps had descended the Catoctin Hills during the afternoon of July 1, 
having marched thirty-eight miles since daybreak. The sun was rushing to the horizon 
in a sea of golden and ruby-tinted clouds, the air was hot and oi)pressi\e, and tlie men 
seemed exhausted by fatigue, for this was their tliird consecuti\e da)'s march, tluring which 
the corps covered one hundred miles of dusty roads. Then the little town of Hanover 
came in sight, its pretty church steeples embowered in foliage, the valley being a perfect pict- 
lure of rural peace and plenty. Wide meadows on the right had jusl becMi mowed, the 
fresh-dried grass standing in haycocks ready for the wagein, while in front stretched a 
broad field of standing wheat almost ripe enough for the reaper. Smiling orchards, huge 
barns, groups of cattle, and a few scampering horses in a pasture near a brook completed 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



403 



the pastoral scene. Like an avalanche, the corps descended into the valley. The infan- 
try marched into the wheat field, trampling down the ripening grain, while the artillery 
seized the meadows and the hay. Tents were put up, and the men were quietly eating 
their suppers, when the news ran from fire to fire that the First and Eleventh corps had struck 
the enemy, and that General Reynolds had been killed. Twenty minutes after, the hurries 
began winding the call "Strike tents and march awa)-." The bugle notes had scarcely 
ceased before the entire corps of sixteen thousand men was in line for a night march 
of eighteen miles. The route ran through a succession of small villages. The houses 
were all illuminated, while among the cherry trees, beside the road, stable lanterns had 
been hung. The inhabitants exhausted their stores of bread, honey, coffee, milk, and 




Third Army Corps, at Grttysburg, Pa. 



cheese by giving it freely to the men in the marching column. All night these people 
stood at their garden gates watching the solid masses of infantry tramp steadily forward. 

It was two o'clock in the morning when the Fifth Corps was halted in an open field. 
Then word was passed for bivouac, so the men stuck their bayoneted muskets into the 
soft earth and threw themselves on the ploughed ground, almost instantly falling into 
slumber. There were a few houses near by, and those of us who remained awake learned 
from a countryman that we were on the outskirts of a town called Gettysbur'^'-. At five 
o'clock the brigade bugles began again, and the men rose weariedly from their warm blan- 
kets. Building small fires out of fence-rails to boil their coffee, these veterans munched hard- 
tack and waited for orders. Everybody knew that marching was over for a time, for even at 
that early hour brisk, crackling musketry was going on somewhere in front, showing that 
the pickets had found something to do. As the corps moved out into the road a few 
pieces of artillery gave tongue, the reverberations of the cannon having a muffled sound 



404 



THF. MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



as we marcluHl through tin- mists that were rising from the damp earth. Coming to a 
culvert, the line divero-ed into the fields, leaving the dusty road for the reserve artillery. 
Over on the left of the road long lines of canvas-covered wagons could be seen in the 
eloom. A few huiulrrtl yards further on we came to a beautiful evergreen hedge, si.x feet 
hi^di and carefully trimmed. Just then a battery came crashing through the hedge;, each 
section cutting its own path. As the column of infantry opened to give passage for can- 
non and caisson I noticed how completely the hedge had been destroyed, for there were 
three broad gaps showing where the heav\- pieces had cut down the neatly trimmed plants. 
But it was no time for sentiment, so on we went until tin' sun rose bright and warm. 
We had now re-entered the road, and followed it for nearly a mile, when the leading bri- 
t-ade turned into a piece of woodland. Here the corps was again halted, and the men, 




finding that no movement was intended, stretched themselves on the ground and fell 
asleep. W'e remained cpiiet for two or three ht)urs, when the bugles again sounded, and 
the troops listened to the bulletin issued by General Meade. It reminded the veterans of 
the McClellan days, and they smiled grimly as they listened. But, to the astonishment of 
all, the bulletin simply saitl that it must be a soldiers' battle, not the general's. This was 
something new, and coming, as it did, from the man who hatl so long commanded the 
Fifth Corps, it meant a good deal to the men of the Maltese cross. Scarcely had the bul- 
letin been read than the corps was again in motion. 

Moving leisurely through the woods, we came to a broad open meadow, and while 
crossing it the musketry and cannonading on the battle line grew more fierce ami venge- 
ful, showing that the enemy was growing active. But the men gave very little heed to the 
uproar, knowing that their turn would come soon enough. On the other sitle ot the 
meadow were more woods. It was now eleven o'clock, and eyelids were still heav)- for 
lack of sleep, so m less than ten minutes nearly every man was dreaming. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




CHAPTER XLI. 



(;i'.l TVSHUKC THE STRUGGLE FOR l.ITTl.E KoU.Mi Top. 



When Grnrral Hancock k-ft the field at sunset of |uly i to n-port to General Meatle 
the Federal line consisted of the I'irst Corps, under Gen- 
eral Newton ; the I'Lleventli, umler General Howard, and 
the Twelfth, umler General Slocum. Hancock's Second 
Corps, arriving about sunset, was ordered by Slocum to 
take position on the left of the established line, and when 
Sickles marched wy with the Thinl Corps he was directed 
to extend the lint: further to the left, along- Cemeter\- 
Ridge. General Meade j)ersonally examined the ground 
at dawn of Jidy 2. He found no occasion for changes, 
as the corps generals had taken advantage of every 
obstruction in placing their men. The country around the 
picturesque town of Gettysburg is of a rolling character, 
consisting of a series of ridges. Gettysburg nestles ;i'. 
the base of these, and it is the centre of radiating roads. 
All of these were full of Confederate and Federal troops 
or wagon trains, so that a section of country fully twent\ 
miles square was under the pressure of vast bodies of 
armed men and cumbrous impedimenta (^f war. 

The configuration of the ground on which these two 
imposing armies were to meet in the mighty shock of 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



407 



battle is admirably suited for that purpose. Cemetery Ridge lies south of Gettysburg, 
and is some four miles long. Its general outline is that of a fish-hook. The shank 
consists of Big and Little Round Top, the first four hundred feet high, the latter 
nearly two hundred and eighty. The stem is Gulp's Hill, the point is called Wolf's 
Hill. At the base of the Round To)) flows Plum Run Greek, and between Gulp's and 
Wolf's hills meanders Rock Greek. The entire ridge is [broken up by numerous rocky 
ledges and outcropping strata, mingled with huge boulders. On the west of Gemetery 
Ridge extends a narrow valley, through which passes the Emmettsburg road. On the 
other side of this valley, fated to be deeply dyed with human blood, rises Seminary Ridcre, 
from which General Buford and his cavalry division had been dri\'en the day before. In 




the centre rises Oak Ridge. The outline of Gemetery Ridge is that of a crescent, over fi\'e 
miles long. 

While General Meade was examining the P""ederal line with General Warren, his chief 
engineer, and General Hunt, his chief of artillery, Generals Lee, Hill, and Longstreet 
were consulting on Oak Ridge, which gave them a clear view of the opposing ami)-. 
Having planted their batteries along the Ridge, the Confederate line was formed, Long- 
street's corps being on the right, opposite the Round Top, Hill's in the centre, confronting 
Howard and Hancock, while Ewell held Lee's left and stood against Slocum on Gulp's 
Hill. It is a curious fact that this disposition of Lee's eighty thousand men left an 
opening in his line almost a mile in width. 

It was evident to the Confederate generals that the Federals intended to stand on the 
defensive, Meade's principal reason being that he did not have his whole force on the 



40.S 



Till-: Mf.MORIAI. WAR BOOK. 



>rroiiin.l, as SetU''wick was miles ami miles away and I'Vcnch remained at I'Vederick watching 
the Potomac Fords. In fact, even when the Sixth Corps did arrive the effective Federal 
streni-'th was only eighty-four thousand, as the ca\alry was of little use on the field. 

The sun now rose above the tops of tin* wooiisaiid poured its fierce heat on the scene. 
A soft breeze fluttered the tree-leaves and maile the standing wheat in the fields wave like 
ripples on a sheet of water. It did not seem to be a battlefield until the careful ey(! de. 
tected, here and there, long lines of butternut or blue, as the Confederate or b'ederal bri- 
trades assumed some new position. Next there came to the ear a few dropping shots of 
musketrv as the pickets fell within range, and now and then a cannon would give an angry 
bark and a shell go flying through the morning sunshine. Sii carefully did General Lee 



Brio Gem. J M i; 




E^,ii'irEN,(;.H,3T-tUART 



BHIddEN, W. 5MITH. 



Col £. A O'NEAL. 



prepare for the attack he conicmplaled that ii was four o'clock in the afternoon before he 
made any decided movement. There had been a feint by Ewell during the forenoon, but 
it came to nothing, as Slocum was alert. 

When General Sickles had been ordered to extend the Federal left his instructions 
were to keep close connection with Hancock's line. Insteatl of doing so, he advanced to 
the Fmmettsburg roatl, thus throwing his lir.e into the air, a jiroceeding that came near 
proving fatal. 

Sickles' advanced line was accordingly selectetl for the Confederate point of attack. 
While Meade and Sickles were tliscussing the position Longstreet's artillery opened 
in most furious fashion. Seeing at a glance that the battle had openeil, General Meade 
hurried ofY to send Sickles some assistance. Ihmiphrey's division formal Sickles' right, 
along the Fmmettsburg road ; Birney's division had been thr(,)wn forward into a peach 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



409 



orchard, where Graham's brigade was posted, the brigades under De Trobriand and 
Ward moving in an obhque Hne toward the Little Round Top. Under the protection of a 
terrific artillery fire, which wrapped the Third Corps in a mantle of (lame, Longstrect swept 
forward with twenty-five thousand infantr}', Hood's division being on his right. .Suddenlv 
the Confederate line swa)ed to the right, evidently bent on .seizing the Round Top. Thus 




COMMA.NDERS ThIRO AND CaVAI.RY CoKPS, C. S. A. 



it was that W'ard's brigade rt-ceiveil the In^st shock, but soon the whole corps was desper- 
ately engaged. For an hour did the struggle continue, until both ot .Sickles' Hanks were 
partially enveloped. The Third Corps fought determinedl)- to hold its ground, but was 
slowly forced back, until there seemed great danger that the left of Meade's army line 
would be turned and overthrown. 

When the fierce crash of cannonailing broke out on Sickh s' front the men of the 



410 THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Fifth Corps were sleepinq- or restinc;. 'rinn ihc hoi air was sliakcn liy rapid exchanges of 
cannon shots, accompanit-tl b}- veni^eful I)ursls of musketry. " What has hapi)(ned ?" was 
on evcrv hp. A few minutes after, a staff officer rode up to General Sykes, wlio was con- 
versiniT with Generals Ayres and Weed in a little dell, anil the writer noticed that his face 
was covered with blood. He had uttered oul\- a few words when Ayres and Weed scal- 
loped off, and the corps headquarters bu'^ler began an alarm, the refrain being cpiickly 
taken up b)- the division and brigade bugh-s. In less time than it takes to write it the en- 
tire nine brigades were on the double-ipiick antl going in the direction of the uproar that 
had now become almost deafening. 

Turning into a narrow road, the Fifth Corps raced along, there being no need for the 
colonels to urge their men -forward, for all realized that a critical moment had come antl 
the sooner we got to tlu.- scene of threatened ilanger the better. As the column passed 
over a rise in the road I coidd see a tlense cloud of white smoke, which was illumineil by 
litful Hashes as the batteries barked angrily and the infantry poured in a leaden hail. 
Twenty minutes of this headlong pace brought us a mile nearer the light, anil in ten 
minutes more we were right in its midst. Descending a sharp pitch in the road, we saw a 
confused mass of men struggling for the mastery. The blue and the gray seemed ine.x- 
tricably mixed, and how we were to distinguish between friend and foe was a puzzle. P)ut 
the three divisions here separated, the First, under General Griffin, going to the right in 
columns ; the Second, under Ajtcs, keeping to the road, while Crawford and his Pennsjl- 
vania Reserves were halted for an emergency. 

Pell-mell went the First and Second divisions, cutting their wa)- through the Third 
Corps and forming in line to confront Longstreet, who had doubled up Sickles' left flank 
and tiling it back on his centre. Just before making the charge, a litter was carried past 
our moving column, and the bearers whispered that they carried their general, who was to 
lose his leg". We charged a battery and captured it. As the guns were being tlragged 
away I saw that Griffin's brigades had striick Longstreet's main force, but just at that 
moment our brigade line broke awa\' on the left, and we soon found ourselves clambering 
a rocky hill which we subsequently learned was the Little Round Top, It proved to be 
an awful hard climb, for the hill was mainly rubble-stone, which made footing uncertain. 
At every step men fell dead or wounded before the volleys that were poured into our faces 
from the apex of the hill. Up — up we struggled, and on reaching the summit the leading 
line gave a hoar.se cheer, for Longstreet had lost the Little Round Top, never to regain its 
possession. The two brigades under Vincent and Weed, wbich won the position, had, how- 
ever, suffered heavily, among their killed being the two brigadier-generals and Colonel 
O'Rourke of the One Hundred and Fortieth New York. Captain Hazlitt, wlio hat! suc- 
ceeded General Weed in command of his lamous batter}-, hastened to the side of his old 
commander, who was mortally wounded by a Confederate sharpshooter after the position 
had been taken. The Cjeneral was lying on a stretcher among some boulders, and Hazlitt 
bent over him to receive his dying instructions and private letters. 

"Weed," said Ha/.litt, " 1 hope; you will be able to carr\- home these messages ^•()ur- 
self." "Why do you say that?" replied the General, faintl\-. " Uon't you see I am as 
dead as Julius Ccesar?" 

As hi- uttered these words a bullet from the same death-dealing rifli; crashed through 
llazlitl's skull, and the artillery captain fell forward on his knees, a corpse, across the form 
of the dying general. Weed, turning his eyes downward to look at his friend, said, 
.sadly : " Poor Hazlitt ! he has gone before me," and then i-xjiired. 

It was General Hood's faxorili; Texan brigade that had si-izeil the Little Rouml Top, 
but Plum Run C reek had dela\etl tlu-ir movement, so that these Texan \cterans had not 
lime enough to establish a line before they were assailed b)' the I'"iflh Corps. Being 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



41 r 








Battlefield of Gettysbu kg, Y 



,,, THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 

4* - 



driven back. General Vincent's brigade, consisting of the Twentieth Maine, Colonel 
Chamberlain ; Forty-fourth New York, Colonel Rice, and the Sixteenth Michigan. Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Welch, formed line along the crest of Big Round Top, on the left of Little 
Round Top, while Weed's brigade, now under command of Colonel Garrard, consisting of 
the One Hundred and Fortieth New York and the One Hundred and Forty-sixth New 
York, held the Little Round Top, supported by some regulars. Hack came the Texans 
with other brigades from Hood's division, uttering fierce yells. In three lines rushed the 
Confederates, but they were met by a withering musketr\ M)lle\ . accompanied by rajjid 
rounds of grape from the depressed guns of Hazlitt's battery, which had climbed u]) tlie 
Round Top. Again were they driven back, only to return and be beaten once more. l*"or 
nearlv an hour did the struggle continue, with awful slaughter on both sides, until finally 
the Texans fell back beyond a ledge of rocks on ilie other side of the hollow, afterwards 
given the name of "The Devil's Glen." 

It was General Gouverneur i\. W arren. the Chief Engineer of the Army of the 
Potomac, who really saveil the Round lop. for he took the responsibility of sending 
Vincent and Weed to fight for its possession. General Warren was of an extremely nerv- 
ous temperament. His bravery was undisputed, but in the midst of a battle he seemed 
querulous and excited. He invariably and intuitively grasped the situation at a glance, but 
i^rew so excited that his simplest order was uttered in a passionate manner. Nothing 
angered him so much as a mistaken interpretation of his commands, and if a brigadier 
failed to carr\' out tlie mo\"emcnt he had planned his passion knew no l)Oimds. 

Warren was an ungainly horseman. His engineering studies and tendencies rendered 
him careless of his equitation. If he had a position to reconnoitre he would leap out of 
the saddle in order to clamber on top of a rock scarcely any higher than his horse's back. 
There on foot, with solid ground under him, Warren could plan at leisure and with ease. 
Neither was he particular regarding the sort of horseflesh at his command. His rank 
gave him a right to the best, and the quartermaster always saw that he was well mounted. 
He paid no attention to the matter. The animals might be changed daily and the fact 
entirely escape Warren's attention, so long as the old saddle remained. 

Hut neither Longstreet nor Hood gave up hopes of finally securing the Round Top, 
for, withdrawing from in front of General Griffin, the Confederates formed in solid mass in 
the woods, and advanced at sunset. Scarcely had the first line shown itself when Griffin's 
batteries opened a Hanking fire of grape which shattered it. Then a second anel a third 
line came pouring out of the woods and rushed acro.ss the glen. Again did the Federals 
open with vengeful volleys of lead and iron, compelling the Confederates to sullenly retire. 
Desperate as was the struggle for the possession of the Round Top, the fighting along the 
line of the Third Corps was still angry and vengeful. When .Sickles was wounded, Birney 
assumed command, there being no time to summon Humphrey, the ranking division com- 
mander. Birney found McLaws' division and several regiments from Anderson's divi- 
sion opposed to him, Longstreet's evident intention being to crush the ape.x of Sickles' A- 
shaped line. 

Sweitzers and Tilton's brigades of the Fifth Corps now rallied to Hirney's support, 
but the Confederates had succeeded in advancing a couple of light batteries, which enfiladed 
the Peach Orchard. Birney's men fell back, and took a new position on a wooded knoll 
King between a wheat field anil the Round Top. Here the fighting was resumed with the 
same headlong dash and fury that had characterized all the movements during the day in 
that part of the field. Both Birney and Hancock saw the pressing necessity for closing 
the gap between them, and the latter sent Caldwells division to extend the line and sup- 
port Birney. Away went the men of the Second Corps, Cross's and Kelley's brigades be- 
ing in advance. As these fresh troops rushed into the flame and smoke ot battle Long- 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




OF GkTTVSBIKG, Pa. 



4U 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



strtx't's men gathered in heavy force and met them with a frightful volley of musketry and 
t^Tape. General Cross was killed at the head of his brigade, and the Federal loss was a 
very heavy one. Seeing the line faltering, Zook's and Brooke's brigades sprang forward 
with a loud cheer, and the battle raged with even greater fury. Foot by foot the Con- 
federates were forced back, but the musketry on both sides was so steady that the fight- 
in^'- soldiers found it dilticult to avoid their deatl and wounded comrades who were fall- 
ing thickly among them. The angry buzz of bullets, the cruel swish of grape and can- 
ister, stunned the ears of these contending troops, while above these murderous sounds 
rose the piercing shrieks of shells thrown from Longstreet's reserve batteries on his right 
and from the Round Top on Meade's left. 

Here General Zook fell mortally wounded, but Brooke carried forward both brigades 
and drove the Confederates from their position. McLaws and Anderson were not to be 
entirely shaken oflf. however, for they quickly reformed and charged through the Peach 
Orchard with every available man. So impetuous was the onslaught that Caldwell's entire 
divisii>n was compelled to retire, which brought the Confederates on Sweitzer's brigade, 
when it in turn was torn and hurled back. At this supreme moment General Ayres came 
up with the brigades of Regulars, who stemmed the tide for a time, but McLaws had 
iirathered his men into a compact mass, and it was impossible to stop their progress. So 
back went Ayres and Caldw^ell and Birney to form a new line along a ledge of rocks on 
the r\^A\t of the Round Top. This brought McLaws' and Hoods men together right 
in front of Round Top, and another effort was begun to seize that elevated position. 

At this moment General Warren was on the Round Top, standing on a boulder, 
regardless of the sharpshooters' bullets that were whist ing about his ears. As General 
Crawford's Pennsylvania Reserves, the Third Division of the Fifth Corps, had not yet fired 
a shot, Warren decided to call upon them, for, as he afterwards said, Pennsylvania troops 
could be relied upon to fight on the soil of their own State. Sending for Crawford, the 
Chief Engineer pointed into the Devil's Glen, where Longstreet s divisions were visibly 
forming for a charge. Then Warren exclaimed, in a harsh, sibilant voice : 

"Crawford, there's your chance; I want those brigades driven back — do you think 
vou can do it ? " The former surgeon of Fort Sumter stroked his long, lu.xuriant whiskers 
and calmly replied. " We can try." 

Then there came a long line of men, each wearing a bit of fur in his cap. \\ ith a 
cheer, these famous "' Bucktails " spread themselves along the face of the Roimd Top and 
went scrambling down tlie slippery declivity. At the same moment there was a sudden move- 
ment in the road as the remainder of the division rushed into the glen. Seizing a flag, 
Crawford led the Reserves on a headlong, resistless charge. The struggle that ensued was 
a desperate one, the troops on the Round Top seeing the General still mounted and wav- 
ing the flag over his head. For fully twenty minutes these Pennsylvanians, Texans, and 
Carolinians fought with the fury of demons. Finally the Confederate line gave way, and 
it fell back to the shelter of the woods, broken and confused. Then the Federal line from 
the Round Top to Hancock's left was filled up and straightened, and the battle on that 
part of the field ended, for darkness soon fell on the scene, and the exhausted troops on 
both sides rested. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



415 




410 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




CHAPTER XLII. 



CETTVSBURC. THE LONFEDEKATF ASSAL l.T OX CUEP S MILL. 

The Sixth Corps arrived on the held of Gettysburg while the brigades of the Fifth 
Corps were rushing to the left of Meade's line. Sedgwick's men had been on foot since 
eif^ht o'clock the previous night, having marched sixty-eight miles in thirty-one hours. 
The' Fifth Corps covered sixty-six miles in thirty-two hours. Every musket-bearer carried, 
besides his nine-pound weapon, a bayonet, one hundred rounds of ball cartridge, six days' 
rations, an overcoat, blanket, a piece of tent, and a hatchet or a frying pan. The marches 
made by these troops illustrate the tremendous strain frequently placed upon soldiers. 

While Hood and McLaws were fighting the Third and F"ifth corps the division under 
Anderson was moving toward a depression in Cemetery Ridge. When Sickles advanced 
his line to the Peach Orchard Humphrey's division was facing to the right, so that when 
Longstreet's three divisions moved forward Humphrey was exposed to a severe cross-fire, 
but he held his ground until orders came to fall back to the Ridge. Then Anderson 
hurled the brigades of Perry, Wilcox, and Wright upon that part of the Federal line. These 
three brigades were perfectly fresh, and drove Humphrey's men up to Round Top Ridge, 
which brought the Confederates within close range of the Second Corps. Hancock's 
men rose from behind a stone wall and poured in so destructive a volley of musketry 
that Anderson's division reeled under it and finally withdrew, leaving the ground thickly 
covered with dead and wounded men. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



417 



General Slocum's Twelfth Corps at that time stood on Meade's extreme right, on 
Gulp's Hill, with Howard's Eleventh Corps and Wadsworth's division of the First Corps. 
In front of them was General Ewell, who had received orders to make a simultaneous 
assault with Longstreet. But Ewell did not attack until late in the afternoon. Conse- 
qucnily Meade transferred Slocum's corps to the left, leaving only Greene's brigade. 
Lying between Gulp's Hill and the right of Cemetery Ridge is a small ravine. On the 
right of this gully stootl -Stevens' Maine battery, while on the left Howard's corps was shel- 
tered by a stonewall, Ricketts' and Wiedrich's batteries being posted on the summit of the 
Ridge. As the men on the Federal right were listening to the turmoil attending the struggle 
for the Round Top several of E well's batteries on Benner's Hill, a little to the north of 




'Bodies of dead in Wheatfield.. near 

THE Peach Orchard, and aionc Sickles iine 

NKAR THE EmmETSBURG ROAO GETTYSBURG, Pa. 



Gulp's Hill, opened a furious cannonading. The hour was si.x o'clock, and the attack was 
unexpected. The Twelfth and Eleventh corps batteries responded briskly, and succeeded 
in silencing the opposing guns. At sunset General Ewell massed his two divisions of in- 
fantry uncier Early and Johnson, and sent them to assault the Federal positions. Early 
going against Howard and Johnson moving on Gulp's Hill. 

General Early had Hoke's and Hays' brigades, including the Louisiana Tigers. 
These troops marched up in splendid shape, until within six or seven hundred yards of 
Howard's line. Then all of the Federal batteries on both sides of the gully opened with 
grape and canister, the charges tearing wide gaps in the Confederate ranks. But Early's 
men pushed on until they were within musket range of Howard's stone wall. Then a 
flash of hot Hame sprang up, and a dense white cloud of smoke wrapped the wall as the 



4ii 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Eleventh Corps poured five thousand bullets into the advancing column. Early's left and 
centre was shattered by this deadly discharge of leaden hail, and fell back, but his right 
mana^'-ed to press forward and leap over the wall. A desperate hand-to-hand contest fol- 
lowed, the I'ederal artiller)' being helpless, for the gray and the blue were mingled together. 
So impetuous was this part of the Confederate charge that \\'i<-drich's battery was cap- 
tured, many of his men being bayoneted over their guns. Onwartl swept the line until 
Ricketts' battery was reached, when another sanguinary conflict ensued, but the artillerists 
saved their guns by heroic personal effort. Hancock now sent over Carroll's brigade, 
which founil the Eleventh Corps in a state of confusion. Rushing into the melee, 
Carroll's nun delivered a well-directed volley, which decimated the Confederate line and 
forced it to retire. Ricketts' battery then resumeil its lire, the men ramming home double 
char^T-es of canister, which increased Early's loss and completed his discomfiture. 




As Early moved forward Johnson essayed to take Culp's Hill. Johnson's first line of 
battle consisted of lackson's old " Stonewall Brigade." Wadsworth's division and Greene s 
brigade had fortified the hill during the day, being tolerably well protected. Johnson's 
division lost no time in crossing RockV Creek, in water about knee-deep, and gained the 
dense woods along its banks. The Federal skirmishers retreated to the main both, while 
the Confederates formed a more orderly line.. As yet there had been no musketry, be\ond 
the scattering shots of the discomfited Federal skirmishers, and Johnson's men emerged 
from the woods in one grand line. Then Greene and W'adsworth opened fire, their \ ol- 
leys being rapid and well delivered, compelling the Confederates to pause. Seeing that 
Greene's right flank was wholly unprotected, the Confederate general made it his point of 
attack. Throwing his main force to his left, Johnson gained a foothold on the hill. This 
brought the brunt of the fight on Greene's brigade, which was being slowly pressed back, 
when W'adsworth rushed in and drove Johnson's division off the liill and into the woods 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



419 



beyond the creek. Then there was another of those pauses which are so ominous during 
an engagement. The shadows of that hot July evening blotted out the rifts of sulphurous 
smoke still lingering in the hollows, the tired artillerists dropped their sponges and ram 
mers, the skirmish lines grew mute, and the second day's struggle was at an end. 

The Confederates had failed in their efforts to shake the Federals from the Round 
Top, Gulp's Hill, and Cemetery Ridge, but Meade had lost nearly ten thousand men, 
killed, wounded, and missing ; Lee, over eleven thousand. In the wheat field, among the 
ripening peaches in the orchard. In the Devil's p'len, under the trees in the clumps and 
belts of woodland, in the shallow waters of Plum Run and Rock creeks, along the steep 
face of the Round Top, behind and in front of stone walls, beside dismantled cannon. 




everywhere along the front of the Federal positions, lay many thousand corpses. They 
were in rows and heaps, a single body here, two or three there. Lying in every conceiv- 
able attitude, the faces of some were peaceful and calm, for death had come swiftly ; the 
features of others betrayed intense agony. Some lay on their faces, others on their backs ; 
others, again, were still kneeling. 

It was a dreadful harvest, on ground that had hitherto only resounded to the swish of 
the scythe or the musical rattle of the reaping machine. These soldiers in the blue and the 
gray were lying peacefully together, mere clods of clay, many to sleep forever in "un- 
known" graves. All night, m)'sterious lights could be seen moving hither and thither 
over the entire field, as hospital parties searched for wounded men. The soldiers, behind 
the stone walls they had hurriedly built during the day, watched these relief parties as 
they passed to and fro, carrying groaning burdens, but, being hardened to the vicissitudes 



420 



THli MliMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




\ 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



421 



of war, these veterans of so many hard-fought battles boiled their cups of coffee, indiffer- 
ent alike to the present, the past, or the future. 

"Here's Jim Manning, he's got it bad," said one of the men in a hospital party, as 
they laid a wounded man on the ground occupied by their compan)-. " Here are the' boys, 
|im." And then the soldiers forgot their coffee-pots and their suppers as they gathered 
around their wounded comrade. 

" Where are you hit, Jim ?" asked a sergeant, bending over the stricken man. 
" I^on't know exactly — somewhere in my side. I got it when we charged down through 
the hollow. Bob Smith lies down there. He's dead, for the bullet went through his 
brain, and Frank Judson's dead, too. Tom Griffith got hit in the leg, and crawled back. 
Where's the captain?" 

" Dead ; we buried him under thti tree, yonder, this afternoon. Here's some hot cof- 
fee, Jim ; try and drink it." 

"Ah! that tastes good. Well, good-bye, boys. We drove them back, didn't we?" 
and then the fatigue party disappeared in search of a field hospital behind the battle line. 
Such scenes occurred all along the Federal positions, the work of gathering up the 
wounded lasting until after midnight, but no attempt was made to bury the dead — that 
must be left for daylight, if no fighting ensued. 




Battle of Gettv 



4^- 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




CHAPTER XLllI. 



GETTVSBrki. THE HERiiIC rHAR(;E OK I'liKETT S KIVISIOX. 



The Twelfth Corps returned to the right of the Federal line when the second day's 
fighting was over. But Johnson's division had crept up in the darkness close to the Fed- 
eral position and occupied the works on Greene's right. Wholly unconscious that the 
Confederates had possession of a part of Gulp's Hill. General Geary placed some batteries 
on the higher ground and advanced his division to occupy the abandoned line. A sudden 
volley of musketr)- revealed the presence of Johnson's division, so Gear\- took position on 
Greene's right, Ruger bringing up Williams' division to facb Johnson's flank. 

About three o'clock on the morning of July 3 there were signs of activity all along the 
Confederate right, and General Gear)- decided not to wait for an attack. The men were 
awakened and ordered into line, and at four o'clock General Geary discharged his revolver 
as a signal. On the instant, five thousand Federal muskets opened fire, the fierce volley 
being succeeded by the deafening roar of twenty pieces of artiller}-. Then the sun rose, 
and the battle grew more determined. Ewell's division made several efTorts to take Culp's 
Hill, but was beaten back with heavy loss. 

The heat was terrible that morning, and as the men's canteens soon became emptv. 
they suffered greatly from thirst. The gunpowder smoke clung to the ground, but still the 
fighting went on. Suddenly the woods and the glen and the hill rang with a fierce yell, as 
Ewell's veterans rushed forward in a solid mass. On they went, down the glen, across 
the creek, and up the slope of Culp's Hill, until they were scarcely two hundred yards from 
the Federal breastworks. Then up rose Geary's, and Ruger's. and Greene's men, and 
poured down a deadly volley, the batteries above their heads throwing thirty double 
charges of canister right into the charging columns. The effect was magical, for several 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



423 



Confederate battalions melted away before the terrible discharge, the line shook for a 
moment, and then Ewell's corps fell back. The position seized by Johnson was then re- 
occupied by Geary, and Meade's right tlank was once more secure. 

This struggle had occupied over five hours, the roar and racket rousing the entire Fed- 
eral army, and as these men on the left and centre stood to arms, along Cemetery Ridge and 
on the Round Top, every musket was loaded, the throat of every cannon crammed with 
canister or shell. As no signs of an attack were visible on Meade's centre or left, the 
men coolly cooked their coffee and satisfied their hunger, careless of the fact that to 
many of them it was the last meal they would have occasion for. 

The forenoon was passing, yet no further movement was visible along Lee's lines 
The Federals strengthened their rude stone breastworks and calmly waited for orders. 
About ten o'clock it was noticed that a few guns had taken position in the open field on 
the centre of Seminary Ridge, but very little attention was paid to the incident until it was 
discovered that other Confederate batteries were wheeling into line. Very soon field 




Gettysburg, Pa. 



officers who carried glasses reported that fully sixty pieces were in view. The massing ot 
these cannons portended some important movement, and Meade's entire army watched this 
assembling of Confederate artillery with curious interest. Battery after battery came for- 
ward anil leisurely assumed its place in the bristling line, but not a shot was fired until after 
the hour of noon. 

The Confederate batteries being now in line, numbering nearly two hundred guns, 
there was an ominous pause, the Federal artillery being busy meanwhile in bringing up 
every piece that room could be found for along Culp's Hill, Cemetery Ridge, and the 
Little Round Top. Battery after battery rattled forward, until we had fully one hundred 
and thirt\- cannon in bristling array. As Meade's army watched the enemy's preparation 
a single shot was fired from the right of Lee's line. The shell flew through the hot July 
sunshine with a piercing shriek and burst over the centre of Hancock's position. Then 
another and yet another followed, until thirt)- or forty guns had gone into action, and as 
the remainder joined in the work Meade's batteries also opened a rapid fire. The roar of 
this double bombardment now became deafening, for the pieces on either side of the wide 
field were served with surprising celerit)' and precision. 



424 



THE MEMORIAL WAR ROOK. 



For an hour this artillery duel continued, yet there was no abatement in the terrible 
shower of shot and shell that each of the confronted armies was receiving. 

It was now one o'clock, and there were soft shadows passing over the ground between 
the two armies, as the clouds of white smoke floated in the warm breeze which fanned but 
did not comfort the opposing troops. Then another hour passed, but the cannonading lost 
none of its vigor or destructive force. Cannon after cannon was dismounted on either side, 
or the batteries were withdrawn to grow cool and get more ammunition, their places being 
taken by fresh batteries, while long lines of wounded men streamed to the Federal and Con- 
federate rear. In front of Cemetery Ridge patches of dead men could be seen, while in 
our own ranks, on Little Round Top, the losses in dead and wounded were very heavy. 

The third hour showed no decrease in the awful discharge of iron hail, and it was not 
until nearly four o'clock in the afternoon that the fire from the Confederate batteries visibly 




slackened. Twenty minutes after, it had died away until only three or four cannon were in 
action, the Federal artillerists dropping their ramrods as the Confederate shells ceased to 
fall among them. 

Then all was silent, even the skirmish lines remaining mute, for no musket had been 
fired in presence of the heavier metal that had been so long employed. This silence was 
really more appalling to our ears than the crash and boom of cannon, for we had grown 
accustomed to the awful din during those perilous three and a half hours. It will never 
be known how many shells were expended by both armies, but the number has been esti- 
mated at over twenty thousand. The light wind had died away, and the smoke lay along 
the ground like a hot mist, concealing nearly e\eiy object on the historic field. Both armies 
knew that the fierce artillery practice v>'as only the prelude to a more deadly struggle. 

As the heavy banks of cannon smoke began rising and melting in the hot sunshine 
we could see that many of the Confederate pieces were dismounted, while all along the 
line there lay a thick row of deatl men. Half an hour passed, but still no musket shots 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 425 

were fired. There were none of those sounds in the air one hears in field and forest on a 
summer's day, for the awful detonations of those twenty thousand shells had destroyed all 
bird and insect life, or hushed it into silence. The reader can have but a faint conception 
of the contrast between the tremendous thunder of those three hundred and thirty cannon 
and the absolute absence of sound that followed the artillery combat. The suspense was 
finally broken by the appearance of a white horse, which passed along the edge of the 
woods on Lee's left. Then the horseman came galloping back again, and a line of troops 
emerged from under the trees and formed in beautiful order. As the horseman disap- 
peared behind the woods in which we knew Hood's and McLaws' divisions still lurked 
this battle line advanced two or three hundred paces. Then a second line left the shelter of 
the woods, and behind it a third line. Even at that distance, this cool preparation for a 
charge presented a magnificent spectacle. 

General Pickett's division had reached Gettysburg the previous evening, and it had 
not fired a shot. Lee and Longstreet, Hill and Ewell, had been in consultation during 
the forenoon of July 3. They had discovered that there was a " fault" in the foimation 
of Cemetery Ridge, and so a charge was decided on that point. Pickett's division consisted 
of Garnett's, Armistead's, and Kemper's brigades. On his right was Wilcox's brigade, from 
Hill's Corps, and on his left one of Hill's divisions, under Pettigrew. The Confederate 
line having been arranged, a few bugle notes Boated across the broad field of torn and 
tattered wheat, and on came that magnificent body of men. The distance to be covered 
was a little over a mile, but what an awful mile to march, exposed to the enfilading fire of 
ninety pieces of cannon ! It seemed madness to attempt such a task, yet these Virginia 
veterans moved across the fields as if on review. But when the three lines of battle had 
fairly got in motion the air was again rent by a furious discharge of artillery, as Meade's 
guns opened. Contrary to our expectations, the Confederate batteries made only a feeble 
reply, for Lee's ammunition was running short. 

Keeping perfect alignment, the charging body of men moved over the ground until 
half the distance had been covered. At almost every step men were falling, as the Federal 
shells exploded over their heads, but the g^ps were quickly filled and the lines kept march- 
ing on. On reaching the centre of the wide dip between Seminary Ridge and Cemetery 
Ridge more bugle calls were heard, and tWe Confederates quickened their pace. This was 
taken by the Federal batteries as a signal to use grapeshot and canister. Every pufT of 
smoke in front of the Confederates was followed by a wide gap as the charges struck down a 
dozen or twenty men. Into a dip in the ground went the leading line, closely followed by 
the others. Then as they again appeared these Virginia troops marched steadily through 
the yellow wheat-stalks until they crossed the road. 

While the Federal artillery was playing havoc with Pickett's command the three corps 
under Hancock, Newton, and Slocum were preparing to receive the charge. Doubleda)'s 
division was on the left of the Federal centre, and Stannard's Vermont brigade was on his 
right, so far advanced as to be on an angle with Hancock's line, consisting of Hays' and 
Gibbons' divisions. It was expected that Doubleday's division would be the first attacked, 
but the enfilading fire from the batteries assembled on the Round Top compelled the Con- 
federates to swerve, so they struck Stannard first. The Green Mountain boys stood fast 
in the grove and allowed the Confederates to go past their position before opening fire. 
Then a Hame of fire sprang from among the trees, followed by another and another. So 
terrible was the effect of these vollejs that nearly one thousand men surrendered. 

Unconscious of this disaster, the main body of Pickett's line swept straight onward, 
toward Gibbons and Hays. Both the Federal generals rode composedly along their 
division lines, saying, " Don't be in a hurry, men ; wait until they get near enough." Then 
the P'ederal batteries, occupying the rugged crest of Cemetery Ridge, Hung double-shotted 



426 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




.Bodies of dead collected for burial MS Pherson's Wood's. 

► -. '^ 




Battlkfihld of Gettysburg. Pa. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



427 



volleys of canister at the foe. Scarcely had the cannon smoke rolled over the heads of 
Hays' and Gibbons' men than they rose from their stone walls and poured in a withering 
fire. Now for the first time the Confederates used their weapons, and a deadly battle 
began at a range of two hundred yards. 

General Stannard's unexpected flanking musketry fire had the effect of pushing Heth's 
division of Hill's corps, temporarily commanded by General Pettigrew, on the right of 
Hays' line. It was composed of North Carolina troops, few of whom had been in battle 
before, and they had been told they were marching to meet raw militia. But when Hays' 
men rose and lifted their ragged battle flags Pettigrew's men discovered that they were 
facing tile Potomac veterans. Woodruff's Ijattery, happening t(j occupy an advanced posi- 
tion, reopened with grape and canister, which had such an awful" effect that the North 
Carolinians broke, and nearl)' two thousaml threw d(jwn their muskets and became prisoners. 




But the Virginians were not so easily shaken, for, despite the storm of bullets and 
grape they were passing through, Pickett's own division pressed forwartl. General 
Giblxjns had placed Owen's brigade, now commanded by General Webb, behind his bat- 
teries. The brigade consisted of the -Si.xty-ninth (Irish) Pennsylvania, the Seventy-second, 
Colonel Baxter, and the Se\ enty-first, under Colonel R. Penn Smith. As Pickett's men 
rushed for the batteries Owen's brigade opened with steadiness, but so impetuous was the 
Confederate charge that the first of the Federal lines gave way and fell I)ack on the se ond. 
Pickett's men leaped over the breastworks, and a fierce hand-to-hand struggle ensued, 
many of the Federal artillerists being bayoneted beside their guns. It was in this bloody 
angle that Lieutenant Gushing was mortally woumled while superintending his battery. 
Feeling his life rapidly ebbing away, the young officer ordered the nearest piece to be 
reloaded, then, leaning over the trail, he pulled the lanyard and fell back dead. 

But it was a last despairing effort on the part of Pickett's division, for Pettigrew's line 
had been broken and was falling back, and W ilcox had failed to give the support expected 



428 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



of him. Seeins^ that his line had been pierced, Hancock now flLing Hall's and Harrow's 
bri<^''ades into the breach. Colonel Mallon's Forty-second New York and Colonel Devereux's 
Nineteenth Massachusetts, of Gates' brigade, also going forward, followed by two of 
Stannard's Vermont regiments. By the time these reinforcements reached the scene of 
conllict their formation was greatly broken, owing to the difficult nature of the ground and 
the haste with which they moved. It therefore happened that the F"ederals and Con- 
federates were fighting by company and squad, instead of by regiment or brigade. This 
made the battle all the more deadly. For half an hour this combat continued, the 
Federals rapidly outnumbering ancl surrounding the Confetlerates, whose general vainl\- 
looked for reinforcements. Hut no more Confederate lines came marching across the wheat 
field, and as the odds were growing heavier every minute, these brave men wisely gave up 




the unequal struggle. I'alling hack, another effort was made by Pickett and Wilcox, but it 
proved too feeble, and resulted in more loss. Out of the eighteen thousand men who 
started on the charge nearly five thousand became prisoners, and as not more than eight 
thousand returned, there were live thousand killed or wounded. 

This was one of the many heroic charges that occurred during the Civil War. The 
divisions of French, Howard, and Hancock made one on Marye's Heiglits under Burnside, 
the Fifth Corps made another at the battle of the Wilderness, and Barlow's division dis- 
tinguished itself in the same way at Spottsylvania. Hooker's ascent at Fookout Mountain 
was a desperate effort, while Thomas's corps covered itself with glory at Chickamauga. The 
charge of Burnside's men at Antietam Bridge may be mentioned in the same category. 

Such movements are sometimes a necessity, but are always hazardous, because the 
chances of success are exceedingly slender. It is now known that Pickett's charge was 
entirely General Lee's idea. When General Pickett had formed his line he sought General 
Longstreet to receive final orders. He found Longstreet sitting on the top rail of a fence 
whittling a stick. General Pickett saluted and said, "General, my column is ready to 
charcre. Shall I charge?" Receiving no answer, and waitin>: a reasonable timr, Pickett 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



429 



returned to his command and again rode through the ranks. A second time he reported 
to the General, with the same resuk. A third time he reported. General Longstreet was 
still sitting on the fence. As he received no answer, Pickett remarked, "General, if I am 
to make the charge it must be made now, or it will he too late. Shall 1 make the charge ?" 
Without saying a word, Longstreet simply bowed his head. Pickett immediately rode off 
and led his troops forward. 

The battle of Gettysburg was now practically at an end. On the Federal side, Gen- 
eral Reynolds had been killed, while Generals Hancock, Sickles, Barlow, and Gibbon were 
among the wounded. On the Confederate side. Generals Garrett and Armitage were 
killed. General Kemper was severely wounded and became a prisoner, as were fourteen 
colonels and majors. 

There had also been some fighting between Pleasanton's and Stuart's cavalry toward 



"i* mi^^: 




Bardstown. In the fields near Plum Run Creek General Gregg made a brilliant sabre 
charge upon Hood's brigade of infantry, which was supported by Stuart's advanced cav- 
alry. In this charge Colonel Farnsworth was killed. This brought the hostilities to a 
tinal close. 

General Hancock obtained great fame at Gettysburg, and deservedly so. He was an 
ideal soldier, brave in action, yet cool and collected under the most trying circumstances. 
When emergency arose he showed that fire and headlong courage which so strongly 
appeal to the musket-bearer, for when the General straightened his splendidly developed 
figure, and waved his sword to the men behind him, they were ready to follow Hancock 
wherever he led. It was this personal magnetism, coupled with the dauntless bravery of 
the man, that gave Hancock that influence over his soldiers for which he was famous. 
Hancock was an e.xceedingly genial man, and he was a popular officer to the day of his 
death, while his memory is warmly cherished by many a grizzled veteran. But I have seen 
the time when there was no smile on Winfield's face, for if his command was not holding 
its own his eye grew dark and there was an ominous frown which told of the passion that 



430 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



for the moment agitated him. But scarcely had the tide of battle changed than Hancock's 
expressive features lighted up and became serene. He looked exceeding]} well in ihe 
saddle. Those who only saw him after his hair became gray can have no idea of tlu; change 
in his personal appearance. During tlu' war ilancock had a swarthy complexion, the result 
of being so much in the open air. His (.lark hair and huge goatee gave his face a look 
of sternness, though it was frecpiently lighted up by a pleasant and engaging smile. His 
figure was rather slender then, which made him seem taller than he really was. 

General Lee's defeat at Gettysburg was the turning point in the war. brom that 
dav the Confederate cause waned. The fall of Vicksburg and Port Hutison, to be de- 
scribed hereafter, had the same importance. There was scarcely any firing during the 
Fourth of luly, the national holiday being occupied by Ixith armies in burying the dead. 
The Confederate loss was five thousand men killed, twenty-three thousand wounded, and 
eight thousand taken prisoners. The b'ederals lost two thousand eight hundred 
and thirty-four killed, thirteen thousand seven hundretl and thirty-three wounded, and 
six thousand six huntlrcil and fifty-three missing or prisoners. There were, therefore, 
nearly eight thousand killed during the thn-e tlays, and lulK' five thousand more died of 
their wounds during the succeeding ten da},s. Few battles of modern times have shown 
so great a percentage of loss. Out of the one hundred and sixty thousand men engaged 
on both sitles, forty-four thousand were killed or woundeil. 

General Lee executed a masterly retreat over the South Mountain Range, and, cross- 
ing the upper Potomac at Falling Waters, escaped into the Shenandoah \'alley. Meade's 
pursuit was feeble and purposeless, though he pushed Lee beyond the Rapidan River. 
The campaigns in \'irginia during the remainder of 1863 were of no importance, the tide of 
battle ilriftino- to the West. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



431 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

crant's kxtraokdinarv movement around vickshurg. 

When General Grant began his operations against Vickshurg in January, 1863, he had 
four army corps at his disposal, McClernand's Thirteenth, Sherman's Fifteenth, Hurlbut's 
Sixteenth, and McPherson's Seventeenth. Ordering Sherman's and McClernand's corps 




U. S. Grant. 



43^ 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




to Young's Point, and McPher- 
^on's to Lake Providence, 
Grant proceeded to Memphis 
and made the necessary ar- 
ranj^ements for holding his rear 
communications. Hurlbut's 
corps held the Memphis and 
Charleston Railroad, but the 
Mississippi Central was aban- 
iloned, as were also all the posts 
on the river, except Columbus, 
every available soldier and gun 
being sent to Young's Point. 
Grant arrived there on Janu- 
ary 30, and, assuming active 
command, ordered McPherson 
to cut the levee at Lake Prov- 
idence, hoping to make a new 
water route to the Mississippi 
through the Red River at Port Hudson, which is four hundred miles below \'icksburg. 
Lake Providence is part of the old bed of the Mississippi, is six miles long, and its waters 
pass through Bayou Macon, Bayou Baxter, and the Tensas, Washita, and Red rivers. 
This project proved a failure. The old canal, begun by General Williams in 1S62, 
was also deepened and widened, but on March 8 a dam broke and filled up the channel^ 
so it, too, was abandoned. Fort Pemberton stood at the junction of the Tallahatchie and 
Yallabusha rivers, where they form the Yazoo. It was so low that Grant ordered the 
levee to be cut opposite Helena, but the water did not swamp the fort. General Ross, 
with his brigade and two gunboats under command of Lieutenant-Commander Watson 
Smith, had previously passed through the cut levee, but they could not reduce the fort. 

Grant accordingly tried Steele's Bayou, which enters the Yazoo near its mouth, thirty 
miles above Young's Point. Steele's Bayou connects with a chain of navigable waters 
known as Black Bayou, Deer Creek, Rolling Fork River, and Big Sunflower River. On 
March 14 Porter explored this waterway as far as Deer Creek, and found the route ap- 
parently feasible. The next day, he and Grant started with five gunboats and four mor- 
tar boats. The passage was difticult, owing to the overhanging timber. On February 
16 Sherman proceeded on river transports to Eagle Bend, where Stuart's division marched 
to Steele's Bayou and re-embarked on the smaller steamers. Porter's gunboats got too 
far ahead, and were attacked, the result of the expedition being finally a failure, and thus 
ended the fourth attempt to get in rear of Vicksburg. Grant next determined to get be- 
low \'icksburg as soon as the subsidence of the spring freshets would give him solid 
ground to march upon. True to his reticent nature, he did not reveal this plan until the 
time came for its execution. Commodore Porter entered into it with zeal and alacrity, he 
and Grant deciding that the gunboats and a sufficient number of river transports should 
run past the \'icksburg batteries. The steamers' boilers were protected by bales of cot- 
ton and hay tightly packed on the decks and along the guards. 

At ten o'clock on the night of April 16 Porter started, his flagship, the Benton, lead- 
ing. The gunboat fleet consisted of the Rice, Lafayette, Louisville, Mound City, Pitts- 
burg, and Carondelet. The river steamers Forest Queen. Silver Wave, and Henr)- Claj- 
followed, each towing barges full of coal for use by the fleet below. The gunboat Tus- 
cumbia brought up the rear. The Confederates e.xpected the movement, and it was not 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 43^ 



long before nearly all of their batteries opened fire, the gunners being aided in sighting 
their pieces by blazing huts or bonfires, which illuminateil the surface of the river. For 
over two hours the Federal fieet was under bombardment, but all the vessels made the 
passage safely, except the Henry Clay, which caught fire from the explosion of a shell 
among her cargo of cotton, and she was burned to the water's edge, soon after lloating 
down to Carthage. 

In order that the difficulties encountered b}- the Federals may be understood, it 
should be stated that Vicksburg stands on a high bluff, which begins on the left bank of 
the Yazoo River, thence runs in a southerly direction to the Mississippi, continuing down 
the latter river to Warrenton, six miles below Vicksburg. The Yazoo empties into the 
Mississippi nine miles above Mcksburg, and the entire bank had been strongly fortified 
from Maine's bluff, on the Yazoo, to Warrenton, a distance of seventeen miles. The rest 
of the country is fiat and cut up by a labyrinth of bayous, creeks, and swamps. During 
the winter season these water courses invariably overflowed, so that the movement of 
large bodies of troops was then impossible. 

General McClernand had been sent on March 29 with his four divisions to New Car- 
thage, by way of Richmond, Louisiana, with orders to capture Grand Gulf. The roads 
were scarcely above water, and McClernand's movement was very slow, for at Bayou 
Vidal he had tCcollect boats or construct them in order to ferry his troops across, so that 
only one division reached New Carthage by A|jril 6, with the remainder of the corps per- 
ilously strung along the entire route. But b\- making a detour and building several 
bridges the remaining three divisions reached their destination by April 20. McClernand 
having made a route for the army. General Grant began mo\ing his troops, McPherson's 
corps being on hand. The march was to be rapid, conscMjuently tents were dispensed 
with, except a sufficient number for the protection of rations and account books, the gen- 
erals, officers, and men being compelled to bivouac. As the wagon trains could not carry 
sufficient rations, six transport steamers and twelve barges were loaded and sent down 
past the batteries. One steamer and five barges were sunk by the Confederate guns. All 
these river craft were officered and manned by the troops, a fact which shows the adapta- 
bility of Americans. No matter what emergency arose, the soldiers were ever ready to 
meet it ; they built bridges, repaired steamboats, laid railroad tracks, patched boilers, re- 
built locomotives, remounted cannon, made harness, mended muskets, baked bread, re- 
shod horses — in fact, the Federal generals alwa^'s found men in the ranks who were able 
from experience to undertake any work that was needed. This rule did not apply in the 
same ratio to the Confederates, they being more accustomed to agricultural pursuits. 

McClernand being on the march. Grant ordered the Seventeenth Army Corps, under 
McPherson, to follow as fast as the road was opened, and the Fifteenth Corps, under 
Sherman, was to proceed when McPherson had cleared the way. In order to avoid several 
swamps and bayous, the route was made from Smith's plantation to the Perkins place, 
which lengthened the line of march to nearly forty miles. When Sherman had got in 
motion Grant's entire force was stretched along these forty miles, infantry and artillery 
toiling along through water and mud. During this laborious movement the cavalry, under 
Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson, performed brilliant service. Grierson had some seventeen 
hundred horsemen. He started from La Grange, Tennessee, on Ai)ril 17, and succeeded 
in getting in the rear of the Confederate forces. Frequently riding for miles through 
water up to their horses' bellies, Grierson's men passed over every road, cutting down tele- 
graph poles, burning bridges, destroying railroad tracks, depots, cars, factories, and stores 
of every description. In fifteen days they marched six hundred miles, and reached Baton 
Rouge on May 2. Colonel Grierson was deservedly promoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
General, and he subsequently became a famous cavalry officer. 



^34 THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



It was Grant's intention to cross the Mississippi at Hard Times, twenty-two miles 
below Perkins' plantation, in order to make a landinjr at Grand Gulf, a stronijly fortified 
position on the east side of the river, just below the mouth of Bi^' ISlack River. This was 
the extreme left of the Confederate works protecting Vicksburg on the south. P)y March 
29 McClernand's corps had arrived opposite Grand Gulf ; McPherson was in siyht, with 
Sherman close behind. McClernand's corps embarked on transports and barges, Porter's 
irunboats moving- up to cover the movement. The fleet was soon engaged, and cannonading 
continued for nearly six hours, until finally the shore batteries were silenced. But the forts 
on the crown of the hill could not be touched by the gunboats, and as the hills were h.oney- 
combed with rillc pits and filled with marksmen. Grant reluctantly abandom-d the direct 
attack and decided to move down to Rodne)-. 

Commodore Porter then repeated his feat of running past the batteries. The passage 
was safely made, though the gunboats suffered considerable damage. There is a long 
ton^fue of land extending from the Louisiana side of the river toward Grand Gulf, and the 
only practical road for the troop i was the top of the levee. A landing was finally made 
at Bruinsburg, a few miles above Rotlney, where a good roatl was found leading to Port 
Gibson, twelve miles in the interior. 

Grant, seeing the necessity of keeping (n-neral Pemberton cooped up in XMcksburg, 
ordered Sherman to make a diversion by going wy the Yazoo River to attack Maine's 
Bluff. So well timctl were the onlers that .Sherman began bombarding on the day Mc- 
Clernand antl Porter attacked Grand Gulf. On May i Sherman received instructions to 
leave Maine's Bluff and resume his march for Hard Times. The position of the Federal 
army was then as follows : Grant's supply depot was at Perkins' plantation, McClernand 
and the gunboats were at Bruinsburg, McPherson's advance division had arrived at Hard 
Times, while the remainder of his corps and two of Sherman's divisions were following. 

On April 30 Grant had with him McClernand's Thirteenth Corps and two brigades 
from the Seventeenth Corjis. During the ensuing week he was joined by four more divi- 
sions, which gave him thirty-three thousand men, with the Mississippi Ri\er rolling be- 
tween him and his base of supplies, but he was on dry ground, and on the same side of 
the river with his opponent. The Confederate force under Pemberton was about sixty 
thousand strong, all inside formidable fortifications. General Grant nametl his command 
"The Army in the Field," for he had not only cut loose from his base of supplies, 
but also from all communication with Washington, a display of nerve very characteristic 
ot the man. 

McClernand's corps was put in motion on the n^orning of May i, and it struck the 
Confederate forces eight miles from Bruinsburg. Very little opposition was made, Gen- 
eral Bowen falling back toward Port Gibson. The section of country through which the 
Federals were now marching "stands on edge," to use General Grant's expressive phrase, 
for all the roads were on ridges, and nearly all the land was covered by a dense growth of 
timber and brush, every ravine being choked with cane brakes and wild vines. The roads 
to Port Gibson ran over twin ridges, so McClernand had to divide his forces, the divi- 
sions under Carr, Hovey, and A. J. Smith going by the right-hand road, while Osterhaus' 
division proceeded by the left. When Grant arrived at the front he found that Osterhaus 
had been repulsed, so McPherson was ordered to send John \\. .Smith's brigade to his as- 
sistance, the men plunging through the ravine and striking the Confederate fiank, Logan's 
division pressing forward on the centre. This movenunt compelled the Confederates to 
fall back, though McClernand, as usual, began calling for reinforcements, much to Grant's 
disgust, for he knew that they were not needed. 

At daylight of May 2 Grant prepared to push forward. Bowen, having burnetl the 
bridges on both roads, had retreated past Port Gibson, which was soon occupied by the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



435 



Federals. In order to get across the South Fork of the Bayou Pierre, Grant's men had to 
build a raft-bridge of logs and material taken from buildings and fences. The entire army 
crossed the swift current that day and advanced as far as Hankinson's Ferry. Then Grand 
Gulf was evacuated by the Confederates, and the Federal base of supplies established there. 
General Grant's little son, Fred, then not quite thirteen, was with the army, and foraged 
for himself. Charles A. Dana, Assistant Secretary of War, was also present. 

On May 7 all of the divisions, except Blair's, had arrived at Grand Gulf and Hankin- 
son's F"erry. Blair was at Milliken's Bend, guarding supplies until fresh troops, ordered 
from Memphis, could relieve him. A nondescript train was formed of wagons, carriages, 




and carts drawn by horses, mules, and oxen, in plough harness, straw collars, rope lines, 
and other fixtures. The men had been given two days' rations on crossing the river, and 
they were told the food must last five days, unless supplies could be gathered on the 
advance. The only thing allowed on the ramshackle train was ammunition, and as there 
was plenty of it, the vehicles were loaded to their full capacity. 

So far, everything had gone well. Grant had succeeded in turning the Confederate 
flank, and all of his army was together. He had intended toco-operate with General Banks, 
then advancing from Baton Rouge on Port Hudson, by sending him McClernand's corps, 
but as Banks sent word that he could not reach Port Hudson until May 10, and had only 
fifteen thousand men. Grant decided to cut loose from everybody, march into the interior, 
destroy the Confederate rear lines, and then invest Vicksburg. 



436 



rilE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



CHAPTKR XLV. 

grant's ADVANTK on VICKSBURG, and the UATTl.K UK CHAMPION HII.I.S. 

\\\ I\lav 7 all of Grant's army was across the river, including Blair's division of Sher- 
man's corps and Lanman's division of Hurlbut's corps, making his effective strength 
about forty-six thousand men. McPherson and McClernand had gone to Rock\- Springs, 
ten miles beyond Hankins(in's Ferry, the latter continuing his march to Big Sandy. On 
Mav 12 McClernand and Sherman had reached Fourteen Mile Creek, while McPherson 
was at Raymond. The Federals had thus ])enetrated thirty miles into the interior, and 




Battle of ChXmfion Hills 



were living off the countr\-. Grant was now entirely cut off, and on May i i he telegraphed 
to General Halleck that weeks might elapse before he would again be heard of, A bold 
proceeding, truly. 

General McPherson encountered a Confederate force near Raymond on the morning 
of May 12. The enemy was six thousand strong, under Generals Walker and Gregg, 
who took position on F"arnden's Creek, and placed batteries to command the two roads 
over which McPherson's corps was advancing. Logan's division received the first volley, 
when DeGolyer's battery was ordered up and opened fire, the Confederate artillery mak- 
ing a vigorous response. Suddenly-, part of Gregg's brigade made a dash on the Federal 
guns, but DeGolyer's guns delivered a withering fire of grape at short range, which shat- 
tered the Confederate ranks and compelled them to withdraw beyond the creek. McPher- 
son then sent in Dennis' brigade. They were stubbornly met, and suffered severely, the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



437 




Confederates maintaining their line. Then the Eighth 
IlUnois, uncleir Colonel Sturgis, rushed forward so im- 
petuously that the Confederates broke and retreated. 
Sherman's and McClernand's corps were now 
mo\'ing toward the Vicksburg and Jackson Railroad, 
over parallel roads. The Thirteenth Army Corps 
was approaching Edward's Station, the Fifteenth was 
near Bolton. When Grant learned of McPherson's 
brilliant little victory he knew that the defeated force 
would fall back on Jackson, where General Joseph 
Johnston was expected with several divisions. He 
therefore ordered McClernand and Sherman to march 
on Raymond while McPherson pressed forward to 
Clinton, which town he entered during the afternoon 
of Ma\- 13, and destroyed several miles of railroad 
track, thus cutting off communication with Vicksburg. 
Then McPherson and Sherman started for Jackson, 
where Johnston had arrived in advance of his troops, 
leaving only Gregg's and Walker's defeated brigades 
to oppose the Federal movement. 
Johnston did not realize that Grant was moving all of his corps at once, and imagined 
that the battle of Raymond had been fought by a heavy reconnoitring force. He there- 
fore ordered Pemberton to throw himself on the F"ederal rear by advancing to Clinton. 
But Pemberton objected to an)- movement that would uncover Vicksburg, and he procras. 
tinated and lost the opportunity. Meanwhile, Grant's colunms marched steadily on, the 
advance entering Jackson on May 14, Johnston having retreated toward Canton. One of 
those terrific rain-storms so common in the West at that season of the year now hampered 
the movements of both armies, but Grant having learned that Johnston had peremptorily 
ordered Pemberton to cross the Big Black River, he determined to push on through the 
mud and force a battle. His troops were then in such a position that concentration in the 
neighborhood of Edward's Station was quite feasible, and it was so swiftly performed that 
on the morning of the i6th McClernand's corps found Pemberton taking hurried position 
on Chamjjion Hills, five miles from Baker's Creek. So accurate had been Grant's entire 
movement that no courier fnjm Johnston reached Pemberton, who, supposing he was 
going to meet only part of the Federal force, made his advance leisurely. As the Thir- 
teentli Corps came in sight Pemberton received a message from Johnston telling him 
that he must move northward or they could not unite their forces. Pemberton according. 
1\' prepared for a retreat, and had already sent his wagons to the Big Black, when he found 
himself compelled to stand and accept battle. Pemberton's right was commanded by General 
W. W. Loring, his left by General Carter L. Stevenson, and his centre by General John 
Bowen, each hurriedly throwing up breastworks. 

Though Grant had General llovey's di\ision on the road, with two of McPherson's 
divisions on the right, and Blair's and Smith's on his left, he decided to wait for the re- 
mainder of McClernand's corps before opening fire. But despite the fact that several staff 
officers were sent to McClernand, urging him to make haste, that general did not reach the 
ground until the battle was all over. The Confederates, discovering Grant's hesitation, 
began forcing the fighting, and b)' eleven o'clock the entire line was engaged. Hove\'s 
division made a charge on two Confederate batteries, stationed on a ridge to the ri'du of 
the road, and captured one, but Pemberton massed his men on his centre and pressed 
Hove)' very heavih', so he was compelled to abandon his captured guns and fall back half 



43« 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



a mile. In this emerijency Grant sent first one and then another l)rii,rade from Crocker's 
division of McPherson's corps, thus enabHn;^- Hovey to hold his position. 

General Grant was sittintj on a stump beside the road over which McClernand was 
expected. He was half a mile in rear of Hovey's line, and he listened to the cannonading 
antl nuisketrv while vainly looking;- for some siijn of the Thirteenth Army Corps. .Suddenly 
General John A. Logan came galloping- up a side road, and Hinging himself from his .saddle, 
strode over to General (irant. 

"General," saitl Logan, "the road over which my division is advancing turns shar])ly 
to the left and will carry us rouml I'eniberton's llank. and slap up in rear of iiis centre. If 
Hovey will make one more effort and keep the Confi'derate line busy I will be able to open 
on their rear in half an hour." 

" Vou are quite sure the road turns sharply to the left ? " said Grant. 

" Quite. One of (Mu-otticers \\\\o was captured early in the day managed to escape, and 
came in over the road. It was he who suggested the movement." 

" His name ? " 

"Captain Norton, Thirteenth Indiana." 

" Tell him that I will see he is promoted to the rank of Major. Go and push your 
division forward as nipidly as possible. 1 will join Hcivey and make the diversion. If you 
succeed, Logan, we will win this battle without McClernand." 

" In twenty minutes \ on will hear m\' guns going," saitl Logan, and he disappeared. 

Grant also galloped to the front, for he had become infected by Logan's enthusiasm. 
Briefly explaining the situation to General Hove\", he rode among the troops and told them 
what he expected them to do. The men cheered lustily, and when the order came they 
moved tiM-ward so steadily that the Confederate centre found it difficult to maintain its 
position. Suddenly the roar ot cannon broke out on Pemberton's rear, and a few of 
Logan's shells came tl>ing over the heads of Hove\'s men. Then panic seized Bowen's 
division, for Stevenson's line had broken and came rushing along the centre. The whole 
line now retreated in confusion, Hovey and Logan pushing forward and gathering up 
prisoners. General Loring, who held the left of Pemberton's position, fouml himself 
entirely cut off, and was compelled to leave all of his field pieces on the ground. 

\\ ith the cheers of the victorious divisions ringing" in his ears, General McClernand 
came up with Carr's and Osterhaus' divisions. Without deigning to ask an explanation 
for his tardiness. Grant ordered the Thirteenth Corps to take up the pursuit. Spurred into 
retrieving his error by the knowledge that an important engagement had been won without 
him, General McClernand entered on the pursuit with ardor. He had reached the field at 
four o'clock in the afteraoon, and his two fresh divisions pushed forward until after night- 
fall, when they bivouacked near Edward's Station, and resumed their movement on the 
following (Sunday) morning, until the Confederates were encountered in some strong 
earthworks protecting the railroad bricige on the Big Black River. 

The Federal force actually engaged in this battle of Champion Hills was fifteen thou- 
sand men ; the Confederate, nineteen thou.sand. Grant's loss w^as twenty-four hundred and 
ten ; Pemberton's, over six thousand. Loring's division was so com|)letely cut off from 
the main body that it never reached Vicksburg. Pemberton got safely across the Big Black 
River, but he had lost thirty pieces of field artillery. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



439 




CHAPTER XLVI. 



THE liATTI.E OK P,U; BLACK RIVER, AXU THE ASSAULTS OX VICKSBURG 



A notable characteristic of General Grant was his vigorous method of pursuit. No 
sooner did he win a battle than he wanted to have another. .So it was not surprising that, 
having driven Pemberton across the Big Black River, this son of a tanner prepared for 
fresh attack. The federal army had now secured an assured position between the Con- 
federate forces under Generals Joe Johnston and Pemberton, and their junction was thence- 
forward an impossibility. Sunday morning, May 17, saw Grant's troops well advanced 
toward the Big Black. .Sherman had been ordered to leave Jackson and march to Bolton, 
thence to Bridgeport, where he was to cross the Big Black, eleven miles to the right of 
Grant's main position. General Blair was sent with his division to join Sherman, who thus 
had the entire Fifteenth Army Corps under his command. To expedite the movement, 
Grant sent with Blair the only pontoon train in his possession. 

Early on Sunday morning General Carr's division assaulted three brigades under 
Generals Cockerill, Villepigue, and Green. They were holding a strong line of earthworks 
on the eastern bank of the river. General Lawler led his brigade to the right until he 
gained an open field. Then charging before a heavy fire of musketry, his men crossed a 
ditch, and delivering a terrific volley, clambered over the breastworks with empt)' muskets. 
The Confederates, on falling back, found that their comrades had set fire to both of the 
bridges, which compelled them to surrender. Two thousand prisoners, eighteen pieces of 
artillery, six thousand stand of small arms, and a considerable quantity of commissary stores 
was Lawler's reward for his men's gallantry. 



440 



THE MEMORIAL WAR ROOK. 



The reiiKiiiKler of Carr's division and that of Osterhaus, then pushed forward, and com- 
pelled Pemberton's whole line to give way, General Osterhaus being wounded during the 
hot en^^atjeiiient. While the battle was going on one of General Banks' aides arrived with 
a letter from Halleck ordering Grant to return to Grand Gulf and co-operate with Banks. 
Grant read the letter, when, hearing Lawler's men cheering, he rode awa>-, and never 
saw the astonished messenger again. 

The destruction of the bridges enabled Pemberton to gain his main defences around 
X'icksburg. The Federals built bridges, using bales of cotton instead of boats, or felling 
trees on both banks, .so that they tumbled into the stream and interlaced. All three bridges 
were completed by daylight of May 18, and the troops began crossing the Big Black. 
Sherman had reached Bridgeport the previous afternoon, and he crossed that night and the 
following morning. He was joineel by Grant as soon as the latter saw McClernantl's corps 




safely over. Sherman atlvanced rapidly on Walnut 1 lills, from which he had been repulsed 
in December. The gairison was evacuating, and in an hour the Fifteenth Corps was in 
possession of the position, and a base of supplies was oblainetl on the Yazoo. McPherson 
came up by the Jackson Roail, while McClernand movetl to Mount Albans, and establishetl 
his line on the Baldwin's P'erry Road. The position of Grant's army was then complete. 
Sherman stood on the right, covering the high ground overlooking the Yazoo ; McPherson 
occupied the centre, on both sides of the Jackson Road ; McClernand was on the left, his 
line extending toward Warrenton. During the forenoon of May 19 considerable skir- 
mishing occurred, and at two o'clock Grant ordered an assault all along the line, which 
gained for his troops some advanced positions and better cover from the Confederate bat- 
teries. The next two days were occupied in constructing interior roads along the lines 
from the Yazoo River and Chickasaw Bayou. Rations of coffee, sugar, and bread came 
up, and the Federals were no longer hungr\-. 

At ten o'clock on the morning of Ma^■ 22 a furious cannonading began trom all the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



441 



|rf* 


1 






1 


i 




Fcdoral batteries, followed by a general infantry assault. The Federals behaved most gal- 
lantly, in many instances succeeding in reaching the Confederate parapets, and planting 
their Hags, but Pemberton's men made a fierce defence, and when night came the F"ederals 
withdrew to their old position. That was the last assault attempted, for Vicksburg was 
now to be regularly invested. 

This second assault led to McClernand's removal from his command. While Sherman 
and McPherson were telling their comhiander that the\- had failed, (irant received a note 
from the Thirteenth Corps commander informing him that he had captured a Confederate 
fort, and that the Union flag waved over Vicksburg. McClernand rather imperiously 
suggested that if Sherman and McPherson pressed forward the victory would be complete. 
The latter obeyed, only to lose many valuable men, for, instead of taking a fort, McCler- 
nand had only captured two lunettes, the Pederals who entered them being made prisoners. 
Then this singular officer wrote a congratulatory order to his men. Instead of having it 
read to his troops, McClernaml sent it to .St. Louis for publication. In the document he 
claimed that he had actual!)' succeeded in making a lodgment in Vicksburg, but had 
lost it, owing to the fact that McPherson ami .Shermaa did not fulfil their parts. This 
was not only untrue, but insub(_)rdinate, so Grant remo\ed him, giving the command of the 
Thirteenth Corps to General E. O. C. Ord. The deposed corps commander jiroceeded to 
.Springfield, Illinois, and there was peace in Grant's military family. 

This campaign will always be considered a remarkable military exploit. In twenty 
days Grant had crossed the Mississippi River with his entire force, had placed it in rear of 
Vicksburg, fought and won five distinct battles, captured the State capital, and destroyed the 
Confederate arsenals and military manufactories. His troops had marched one hundred 
and eighty utiles with only five days' rations from the Quartermaster, and hatl captured 
over six thousand prisoners, twenty-seven heavy cannon, and sixty-one field pieces. The 
Mississippi River was now open from Vicksburg to Port Hudson, a distance of four hun- 
tlred miles. All this had been accomplished by forty thousand men against sixty thousand. 
The P'ederal loss was less than four thousand ; the Confederate, fully twelve thousantl. 
Gi^neral Grant then formallv betMn his sieye of Vicksburg, receiving large reinforcements. 



442 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




^ftm^^ 



■?>'«1! 



;a-~<i'*.- 



J-1 







i 










.v3rf?«.#''-"' . 


•s- ^^m|| 












■P 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



443 




■, by L. Frtingb' Co. 



CHAPTER XLVII. 



THE SIEGE AND FALL (.)F VICKSBURG. 



The works held by Pemberton were seven miles long. Grant's lines of circumvallation 
extended over fifteen miles. General Halleck ordered reinforcements without wailing for 
a request, and Grant sent for every available man in his own department, brigades and 
divisions pouring in from West Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and West Vircrinia. 
Three of these divisions were from the Sixteenth Corps, under Generals Kimball, Lan- 
man, and Smith, another was under General Herron, and two were brought from the 
Ninth Corps by General Parke. The entire besieging force was seventy thousand strono- 
in eighteen divisions and fifty-four brigades. Grant wa.s, however, insufficiently supplied 
with siege material, for he hail only six thirt\-two-pound guns, but he borrowed a battery 
of naval guns from Porter and tilletl the gaps with field artillery, finally placing in position 
two hundred and twenty cannon. Rude Coehorn mortars were made out of hard wood 
logs bound with iron hoops. Small shells were thrown from them with considerable suc- 
cess and accuracy. Commodore Porter brought down all his mortar boats, and beo-an work 
so earnestly that six thousand mortar shells were flung every twenty-four hours, while the 
land batteries threw four thousand. This terrible fusillade continued for weeks. 

General Joseph Johnston now began moving to Pemberton's relief, and on June i 
Grant prepared to receive him. General Parke's corps, with a division from the Thir- 
teenth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth, was placed under General Sherman, who faced to the 
rear, his line extending from the Big Black to Maine's Bluff. On learning the preparations 



444 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



\ 





THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



445 



to receive him, Johnston refrained from any further attempt. In the meantime, Famine 
stalked through Vicksburg. From full rations the Confederate troops were reduced to 
four ounces of Hour, four ounces of bacon, one and one-half ounces of rice, two ounces of 
peas, and three ounces of sugar — scarcely enough for one good meal. On the thirty-sixth 
day of the siege mule and dog meat, with bean flour and corn coffee, formed the daily fare. 
It was, therefore, but a question of time when Pemberton must surrender. 

While the bombardment was going on General McPherson had been mining. On 
June 25 he exploded his first mine under Fort Hill. The result was terrific, for a vast 
column of earth, broken timbers, gabions, fascines, and other debris rose in the air to a 



<^EN. Frank Gardnjer C.S.A. 



#^y k^ 







Ge>^, H.H.Sibley. 

C.S.A. 



Gen.T. Greeh 
C.S.A. 



Gen, E.O.Tracy, C.S.A. 



height of over one hundred feet. An enormous breach was made in the fort, into which 
rushed a forlorn hope of one hundred men from the Twenty-third Indiana and Forty-fifth 
Illinois regiments. The)' were met by a large force of Confederates, but the Stars and 
Stripes were planted on F"ort Hill. When this assault was made every Federal battery 
opened fire, the example being followed by the gunboats and mortar boats. Nearly four 
hundred army and navy cannon went into action for over an hour, filling the air with a cloud 
of exploding shells. The earth trembled under the repeated concussions and entire forests 
were set on fire. The assault on Fort Hill was repulsed, however, )-et there was another 
mine exploded on June 28, and a third on July i, with the same result. 

General Johnston finally sent a note to General Pemberton telling him that on July 7 
a diversion would be made in order that, he might escape. The messenger was captured 
and the note fell into Grant's hands. The Federal commander accordingl)- decided to 



44^^ 



rilF. MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




make a cjcncral assault 
on July 6, but on the 
niDrninL;^ of July 3 a 
white Hag was displayed 
on the front of General 
A. |. Smith's division, 
in Ord's corps. It was 
borne by General Bow- 
en, the division com- 
mander, and Colonel 
Montgomery, of Pem- 
berton's staff. They 
carried a letter from 
Pemberton proposing 
an armistice, prepara- 
tory to capitulation. 
Grant refused, but 
agreed to meet the 
Confederate command- 
er to discu-^s terms. The meeting took place that afternoon under an oak tree, but 
came to no result. Returning to his headquarters, Grant summoned his corps and division 
commanders. Their unanimous voice was for unconditional surrender, but Grant decided 
to parole Pemberton's armv. allowing the officers to retain their side arms. 

At ten o'clock on the morning of July 4 General Logan's division marched into \'icks- 
burg and hoisted the American ensign over the Court House. Then the Federals and 
Confederates began fraternizing, the latter 
gladly accepting" rations from their antagonists. 
During the day General Grant rode into the 
city, being followed by more troops. Tha: 
afternoon he sent a despatch to General Hal- 
leck announcing the surrender. The fall of 
X'icksburgand the defeat of Lee at Gettysburg 
occurring on the same day lifted the hearts of 
the Northern people to a sense of thanksgiving, 
for the war was believed to be over. 

The Federal loss during the siege wa^ 
about nine thousand killed and wounded. The 
Confederates lost ten thousand killed and 
wounded, while thirty-seven thousand surren- 
dered, including fifteen generals. Among their 
killed were Generals Tracy, Green, and Tilgh- 
man (the defender of Fort Henry). With the 
prisoners taken at the various battles before the 
siege — Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Cham- 
pion Hills, and the Big Black — the total Con- 
federate loss was fifty-six thousand men. Grant 
also secured over sixty thousand muskets, all the 
heavy and light artillery in Pemberton's hands, 
besides a vast amount of other property, such 
as locomotives, cars, steamboats, and cotton. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



447 




Levee at Alexandria. 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 



OI'KKATIONS ON IIIK I.OWEK M ISSISSI I'I'I. 



When General Sherman and his division commanders left Gent-ral Grant's head- 
quarters at midnight of July 3, 1863, they had to ride nearly seven miles before reaching 
their respective lines. Half an hour's quick trot 
brought these Federal generals to the interior road 
of communication, and the)- halted for a moment. 
There was on])- a faint moonlight, as clouds lloatetl 
through the air, but the light was sufificient for these 
officers to distinguish each other's faces. 

" Do you intend to enter Vicksburg to-mor- 
row?" asked General Parke. "I should like to 
ritle over and see how the place looks." 

" Why, Parke, we have better business on hand 
than that," replietl Slierman. " Instead of gloating 
over thos(; poor devils who have kept us at bay for 
si.x months and now give in from starvation, I am 
going to chase Joe Johnston." 

"When do we start?" 

" At daylight. General Grant gave me my 
orders while we were discu sing Pemberton's let- 
ters. You will have just time enough, gentlemen, 
to reach your commands and give the necessary 
orders." 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Ill til is brief, uiicereiiionious way were Sherman's colinniis set in motion. General 
Ord's Thirteenth Corps was given the advance, and the orders were to move rapidly. Ord 
crossed the Big Black River at the railroad bridge. Sherman's Fifteenth Corps went by 
Messin>fer"s Ferry, and Parke's Ninth by Birdsong's Ferry, all of the commands to converge 
on Bolton. During July 5 and 6 Sherman caught up with Ord, but Parke was delayed at 
the ferrv, so the advance corps had to wait for him. Johnston received timely notice of 
Pemberton's surrender, and made a rapid retreat on Jackson. As the water supply was 
mainly drawn from pools, the Confederate commander adopted the unusual device of driv- 
ing cattle, hogs, and sheep into the pools and then shooting the animals. This caused much 
suffering among the Federals. 

Sherman's troops arrived at the city of Jackon on the loth, finding the Confederates 
intrenchments greatly strengthened. Quickly investing the place. Sherman placed Ord's 




t-..l|.M..-»i.'.«'-..»-;.»..-.'M...n.»|....4...^ .»i..ji.;v.Aari. 



corps on the right, his line reaching to Pearl River below the town ; Parke's corps occupied 
the left, and Sherman's the centre, from the Clinton to the Raymond road. On July 11 
all the Federal batteries shelled the town, the infantry lines moving up for a charge. 
General Lanman carried his division too close, and was severely handled, falling back in 
great disorder. General Ord was indignant, as the movement had been made contrary to 
his orders, so he requested Sherman to relieve Lanman. This was done, and it ended the 
division general's military career. 

The siege of Jackson was pressed day or night, the Federal artillery being very active, 
until July 17, when citizens notified General Sherman that Johnston had evacuated the 
town. A pursuit was immediately ordered. General .Steele's division going as far as Bran- 
don, a distance of fourteen miles. But |oe Johnston had secured so good a start that he 
could not be overtaken in such terribly hot weather. On reporting the facts to General 
Grant, orders were received by Shemian to return, Parke's corps being sent to Haines 
BlufT. Ord's to \'icksburg. and Sherman returned to his old encampment on the Big Black, 
receiviuij a new division under Brigadier-General \V. Soov Smith. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



449 




Admiral Farkagut and Cactain Drayton on Deck of U. S S. H 



' VlL-KbUUKt,, ON MlSSlSSlHl-l KlVEK. 




Admiral Farracut and Cahain Dravton on Deck of U. S. S. Ha 



■ VicKsBURG, ON Mississippi Rii 



450 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Durinw the summers of 1862 and 1863 threat activity prevailed on tin- Lower Missis- 
sippi. General Williams, who had accompanied Farra.>;ut ui> the Yazoo, was killed at 
Baton Roiiye, while leading; a charge. The Federal gunboats had several battles with Con- 
federate rams, with varying result. 

General Banks succeeded Butler in command of the I-"ederal Department of the Gulf, 
arriving in New Orleans on December 14, 1862, with ten thousand men. Butler had 
twenty thousand men, some of them colored troops, so that Banks had a force of thirty 
thousand men, designated as the Nineteenth Army Corps. Banks' orders were to co-operate 
with Grant in opening the Mississippi, capture Port Hudson, take possession of the Red 
River re>non, and expel the Confederate forces from Louisiana and Te.xas. He entered 
on this extensive field o[ operations under somewhat discouraging circumstances, for Gen- 




eral Sherman had just made his futile movement against Vicksburg on the Yazoo River, 
and Grant had lost his base of supplies. 

General Banks, however, sent ten thousand men to Baton Rouge, imder General 
Cuvier, and the F"ederals took possession of Galveston and Sabine Pass. Then a series of 
reverses seriously threatened the Federal occupation of both Louisiana and Te.xas. Gen- 
eral Magruder, the defender of Yorktown, commanded the Confederate Department of the 
Gulf, and hebega" active operations before Banks could put his forces in motion. 

Colonel Mirrill hatl been sent with part of his Forty-second Massachusetts Regi- 
ment to serve as the garrison at Galveston. Merrill found Commodore Renshaw in pos- 
session of the city, with several gunboats. Renshaw seems to have had a very haz\ idea 
concerning his responsibility, for after the Massachusetts men went into camp he left them 
unprotected. On Januar)- i, 1863, General Magruder made an attack. The Cit)- of Gal- 
veston stands on a low, sandy island, connected with the main lantl b)- a wooden bridge, 
two miles long. Renshaw being evidently negligent, Magruder resolved to make a sudtlen 
move. There was a bright moon that night, and the Confederate general dashed <)\ cr 
the bridge on a train of cars loaded with artillerj- and infantry, succeeding in seizing 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



451 





a position for slielling Rensliaw's gunboats. The Massacliusetts men made a desperate 
resistance, finally repulsing their assailants. Magruder had fortified four steamboats by 
packin^r their guards with cotton bales, and armed them with the heaviest guns in his pus- 




BR)& Gen.Grover. 



452 



THE MlUrORIAL WAR BOOK. 



session. While his land forces were engaged, these steamboats passed down the bay and 
attacked the Federal fleet. General Sibley's brigade was in charge of the guns. The 
Bayou City and Neptune opened the battle by delivering a well-directed fire on the 1 hirriet 
Lane. Despite the volleys of musketry poured upon her decks, the Harriet Lane r.iii full 
tilt on the Bayou City, tearing off her wheel guard. Then the Neptune rammed the 
Harriet Lane, finally sinking her, and the sixty-eight-pounder on board the I^ayou 
City burst. The Confederate soldiers boarded the Harriet Lane, and a dreadful hand-to. 
hand conflict ensued, both Commander Wainwright and Lieutenant-Commander Lee be- 
ing killed, after refusing to surrender. 

Commodore Renshaw's tlagship, the Westfield, ran aground on a bar, as did the 
(^wasco, and the entire Federal tleet was at the mercy of the Confederates. Conuiiodore 
Renshaw refused to surrender, deciding to blow up the flagship and escape with his crew 
on the transports. The train to the magazine burned too rapidly, and the explosion killed 
two boat-loads of men, among them being Commodore Ren^^haw, Lieutenant Zimmerman, 




and Engineer Green. In the confusion Lieutenant-Commander Law took charge of the lleet 
and escaped to sea with the Owasco, Clifton, Corypheus, and Sachem. The Forty-second 
Massachusetts was compelled to surrender, and the port of Galveston was again freed from 
the blockade. The Confederates passed down the Sabine River on January 21 with four 
cotton-padded steamboats and captured the Federal gunboats. 

General Banks next stMit an expedition to Brashear City, where Bayou Teche enters 
the Atchafalaya, eighty miles west of New Orleans. The combined forces were com- 
manded by General Weitzel and Commodore McKean Buchanan, and reached Brashear 
City on January 11. There were several engagements, and the expedition accomplished 
its purpose by destroying the Confederate fleet. On March 13 Banks and Farragut ad- 
vanced on Port Hudson with several gunboats and twelve thousand men. While the troops 
were landing Farragut tried to run past the Confederate batteries, but failed. During 
April there was another expedition, the Confederates being driven back to \'ermillion 
Bayou, and the Atchafalaya River was opened to the Red River, and two thousand pris- 
oners were taken, with twenty pieces of artillery and immense stores. General "Tom" 
Sherman, the hero of Port Ro\al, was equally successful on Lake Ponchartrain. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



453 




MAJOR-r.ENKRAL 



CHAPTER XLIX. 



SIECF. AND FAl.l, (JK PORT HUDSON. 



The activity of Banks' movements finally compelled General Frank Gardner to con- 
centrate the Confederate forces at Port Hudson. His main batteries were admirably 
constructed, and stood on a high bluff, forty feet above high-water mark. Here fortifica- 
tions of the most formidable character were erected, the salient angles afTording oppor- 
tunity for delivering an effective cross-fire from heavy guns. Other batteries extended up 
the river to Thompson's Creek, three miles away, with curtains and artillery lunettes con- 
necting the forts. This wing was further protected by a swamp impassable for troops. 
Below the batteries there were other intrenchments and forts following a semicircular line 
round to Thompson's Creek, forming the rear defensive line. 

General Banks decided on a general assault, the naval vessels having been cannonad- 
ing for several days. Farragut had two gunboats above Port Hudson, while Commander 
C. H. B. Caldwell lay below with four more. The ilivisions under Weitzel, Grover, and 
Paine occupied the Federal right. Augur's the centre, and " Tom " Sherman stood on the 
extreme left. 

At six o'clock on the morning of May 27 Banks' guns opened, the gunboats joining. 
Gardner replied, and a severe exchange of shells and shot continued for several hours. 
Weitzel and Grover advanced at ten o'clock under cover of a furious artillery fire, but 
neither Augur nor Sherman got their columns in motion until the noon hour. Weitzel's 
assault was met b)' so accurate a discharge of shell that he hail to retire. When the entire 



^-^ THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



line charijed their progress was hindered by the broken character of the ground and the 
abatis scattered over evt r\- practicable route. After these separate attempts the Federals, 
under Weitzel and Grover. succeeded in crossing Big Sandy Creek, and drove the Confed- 
erates through a heavy piece of woods, finally reaching within striking distance of the rear 
fortifications. Augur and Sherman were equally successful, so that the Confederates had 
been driven to their intrenchments by sunset. Then General Gardner opened a flanking 
fire on Sherman's advanced line, which compelled his withdrawal. Augur also retiring wh. n 
his left was uncovered. The position being untenable. Banks fell back during the night- 
It was now evident that a siege must be entered upon. Orders were sent to N v 
Orleans for heavy gims, and the troops began digging approaches and building for:-. 
Banks soon found that twelve thousand men were not sufficient for a complete and th< r- 
o\x<y\\. investment of Port Hudson, and asked Grant to send him reinforcements. As stattd 
in a previous chapter, the latter found it inexpedient to do so. On June 1 1 Banks made 
an effon to train a more advanced line, in anticipation of a final assault. Tl:e movein- -t 
be<ran at earlv dawn, but the attack failed. As he had reason for believing that Gardr r 
contemplated a sortie for the purpose of cutting his way out. General Banks decided : 
make another effort to carr}- the place by storm. On June 14 everything was ready a 
simimons having been sent the previous day to the Confederate general demanding . - 
surrender, but Gardner, naturally, refused, as long as he had shot and shell for defer. 
Two regiments were pushed into a ravine, ever)- man carrjnng a six-f»ound grenade in ■ 
hand and his musket in the other, while the n^en in the companion regiment had bag- :" 
cotton, with which they were to fill the iliton in onler that the sunnorting columns nv^ ■: 
sweep over the breastwork^. 

Weitzel's division, with Morgans an^i Kinioaii s brigades, were to begin the assauicj 
soon as it was light enough. Paine's division was placed on Weitzel's left, ready to cha 
should Paine succeed in gaining the breastworks, while Augur and Dwight were to 
a diversion on the right. Passing through a parallel and under cover until they 
reached a point less than three hundred paces from the Confederate intrenchments, the 
lorn hof)e sprang forward. Narrow as was the distance, it proved difficult to cross, 
covered with vines, brush, and canes, and full of hollows. Knowing where the 
attack would be made. General Gardner massed fully one-half of his force at that point 
when the Federals appeared they encountered a fearful series of musketr\- volle\ s. ace 
panied by showers of grape and canister. The men carrying grenades and bags of cotim 
did reach the ditch, but many of the grenades were thrown back at them and caus : 
frightful loss. Weitzel's and Paine's divisions could make iio progress in the face of - ■ 
destaictive a fire, consequently the entire column retreated to its parallel. The efforts «.■: 
.Augur and Dwight also failed, and by noon Banks had suffered a repulse along his entire 
line. General Paine was wounded and Colonel Abel Smith killed. The only success gair 
was the possess^iori v* a hill which comaianded the main fort, and here Dwight rapidh . - 
trenched hims^ 

'• That was uic ia.-<i. «.>l tae a>^viaic>. ikinK> and his division generals agreeing that fur- 
ther sacrifice of human life would be cruel, so the siege went on until July. The Federals 
y dug their way nearer and nearer to Gardner's guns, the opposing pickets being en- 
^ .., I day and night within a range of forty \-ards Mining was indulged in with var^inj 
success, and the Confederates were compelled to eat mule meat, and what rats they co;; i 
catch. Finally the largest mine of all was completed, and the Federals were placing bar- 
rels in the chamber, when news reached General Banks and his troops that Pemberton had 
idered. The cheering along the Federal lines attracted the attention of the Cor.- 
-:e pickets, and when they inquired the cause, during a temporar)- cessation of hosrii- 
iiics, received the reply. "\'icksburg has fallen." That night General Gardner consulted 



7^HE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



455 



General Beale and Colonels Lyle, Miles, Shelby, and Steadman. Tliey agreed that if 
\'icksburg had indeed fallen, surrender was the only thing left for thtmi. The following 
morning Gardner sent a note to Banks asking if the news was corrtxt. Being assun-d of 
that fact, he asked for an armistice preparatory to capitulation. 

The terms accorded by the Federals were of an honorable character. On |uly 9 (ien- 
eral Andrews, of General Banks' staff, entered Port Hudson with two regiments from each 
division. General Gardner advanced, and, with visible emotion, tendered his sword. It 
was declined, because his bravery entitled him to retain it. The order was then given the 
Confederate troops to "ground arms," and si.K thousand two huntlred and thirty-three 
brave men became prisoners of war. lianks' trophies consisted of tift\'-one canncjn, two 
steamboats, seven thousand muskets, and a considerable cpiantit)' of ammunition. The 
capture of this Confederate stronghold, folk)wing so closely after that of X'icksburg, gave 
the Federals possession of the entire Mississippi River. President Lincoln, in one of his 
epigrammatic letters, remarked that "the might)- river now ran unvexed to the sea." 




ul IV.i.l IIlU-,UN. 



456 



:'///: MEMORIAL WAR /WOK. 




Majok-Gen 



CHAPTER 1. 



Ol'KKATlciNS IX ClIAKl.KSroX IIARlKiK, AM) TI I K |-AI.l, Ol' l-OR'l' WACXFK. 



When Cieneral Daviil Hunter succeedt-d General Thomas W. SluTiiiaii at Hilton 
Head he began preparing for an attack on Charleston. On May 20, 1S62, the gunboats 
Ottawa, Unatlilla, and Pembina ascended the Stone River to the mouth ot W'appoo Creek, 
six or seven miles from tlu: city of Charleston. A land reconnoissance toward Pocotaligo 
resulted in the partial destruction of the Charleston 
and Savannah Railroad. The Confederates, under 
Colonel Lamar, had constructed a formidable batter)' 
at Secessionville, which General Benham attacked on 
June II, but his guns proving ineffective, he retired. 
On the morning of June 16 Wright's and Stevens' 
brigades advanced over a narrow strip ot land, when 
Lamar opened with grape and canister from a masked 
battery, and the I'ederals retired. This ended the op- 
erations under Hunter, and no further attempt was maile 
until the following October. General O. IVL Mitchell 
superseded Hunter in September, but he died of yellow 
fever on October 30. He had planned to approach 
Charleston by way of Pocotaligo, and General Bran nan 
undertook to execute the movement. Starting out with 
five thousand men, Brannan ascended Broatl River to the 
Coosawhatchie, thence to Pocotaligo, encountering con- 
siderable opposition, the I-'ederals being compelled to 
re-embark for Hilton Head. 

General I lunter resunietl command of the depart- 




THE MEMORIAL IVAR BOOK. 



457 



ment after Mitchell's death, but though he had fully thirty thousand men, nothing more 
was attempted until January, 1863. Admiral Dupont sent Commander Worden up the 
Great Ogeechee River to attack Fort McAllister, a strong casement earthwork mounting 
nine heavy guns. Worden arrived opposite the fort on January 27 n'xXh. the monitor 
Montauk, some gunboats, and a mortar schooner. The river being obstructed, the moni- 
tor could not get within range, so retired. The experiment was renewed on February i, 
with better results, for, though the Montauk was struck by sixty large shells and shot, 
she was not injured, while the fort was considerably battered. The Confederate privateer 
steamer Nashville was meanwhile prevented from going down to the .sea, and when 
Worden made another attack on February 27 he discovered her aground just above the 




fort. Opening fire with twelve and fifteen inch shells, the Nashville was soon in flanu^s; 
one of her guns exploded, and the magazine blew up, completely destroying the privateer. 
Admiral Dupont, having received more monitors, decided to see what the)' could do 
en masse. Accordingly, on March 3, he sent four monitors and some mortar schooners, in 
charge of Commander Drayton, against Fort McAllister. l>ut the shallow water pre- 
vented three of the monitors from getting near enough to be of any use, the Passaic 
alone reaching a range of one thousand yards. Though nearly three hundred shells wer(! 
thrown into the fort, it was not reduced. The blockading fleet had captured the English 
blockade runner Princess Royal on January 27, with a cargo of military arms ami am- 
munition. The Confederates, seeing the captured vessel still at hand, determined to make 
an effort to recapture her. Taking advantage of a thick haze, Commander Necker and 
Lieutenant Rutledge ran down the harbor of Charleston with the rams Chicora and 
Palmetto State. Their appearance was a complete surprise to the Federal fleet. The 



45S 



/■///:' MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




steamer Mcrccdita was first encountered by the Palmetto State, which rammed her and 
sent a seven-inch shell into her steam-drum, kiilin^' and scaldins^r man\- of the crew. The 
two rams then nisheil on the Keystone State, which made a desperate resistance until a 
shell passed through her steam-chest. By this time the remainder of the fleet awoke to 
the gravit)' of the situation, and succeeded in making' it so hot for the Confederate rams 
that they steamed back to Charleston. 

General IScaurcganl, who was in command of the Confederates, had fortified the har- 
bor in the nicist i laborate manner. Fort Sumter was the centre; of a radius ol forts mount- 
ing over three hundred guns, mostly of the heaviest calibre. With Fort Sumter guarding 
the main channel, there stood on Sullivan's Island Fort Moultrie, I'ort Beauregard, Bat- 
tery Bee, and a sand-bag batter)- on the extremity, covering Maffit's Channel. On James 
Island stood I'Ort [ohnson, the Wappoo Battery, and Fort Ripley. Castle Pinckney lay 
in front of the cit\, and on Morris Island there were Battery Gregg, P'ort Wagner, and a 
battery on Lighthouse Inlet. All of the channels 
were blocked with huge iron chains, and an 
immense hawser, buoyed with empty casks, e.\- 
tended from Fort Sumter to Fort Ripley, the 
entire harbor being thickly planteil with torpedoes. 

Diiring tlie night of April 5 .Admiral Hupont 
anchoretl his liflt'en \csscls oil the bar, in the light 
of a full moon, and two da\ s alter ])rei)ared for 
.action. Dupont decided to run past the Morris 
Island batteries and attack P'ort Sumter at close 
range. The W'eehawken, which led, had a sort 
of raft fi.ved to her bow lor the pinpose of 
sweeping awa)' oi)structions, iiut it pro\ed more 
of a hinderance than a help. The I*"ederal llect 
passed toward the entrance to the inner hai"bor 
without a shot being lu"t:d b\' the Conh-ilerate forts, 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



4S9 



but when Diipont's vessels encountered the hawser and chains every gun that could be 
brought to bear opened fire. Finding that the Weehawken could not advance, Captain 
Rodgers attempted to pass Fort Sumter, but was prevented by a row of piles. Then the 
New Ironsides was caught by the tideway and drifted, the Nantucket and Catskill falling 
foul of her. all three being pounded most mercilessly by the neighboring forts. At four 
o'clock eight of the ironclads had ranged up before Fort Sumter at a few hundred yards' 
distance and opened fire, while they were receiving the concentrated discharge of seventy- 
six cannon from Forts Sumter, Beauregard, Moultrie, Wagner, and Battery Bee. The 
monitors had only sixteen large guns among them. The combat lasted just forty minute.s, 
when five of the ironclads were disabled, the fleet having received twent)-two hundred 




heavy shells and solid shot. Yet only one man was killed, and twenty-nine wounded. 
Dupont then withdrew to Port Royal, leaving the New Ironsides to guard the entrance. 

The Government deciding that P'ort Sumter must be reduced, sent General Ouincy 
A. Gillmore to relieve Hunter, and Admiral Dahlgren replaced Dupont, who had mean- 
while captured the Confederate warship Atalanta, an PZnglish blockade runner that had 
been rudely armored. General Gillmore found that his force consisted of eighteen thou- 
sand men, but as he had to guard a coast of two hundred and fifty miles, his effective force 
was only eleven thousand, with sixty-six siege guns and thirty mortars. Dahlgren had the 
frigate New Ironsides and six mortars. The General and the Admiral, however, resolved 
to make a combined attack. 

Gillmore began operations on Morris Island, hoping to capture Fort Wagner and 
Fort Gregt)-. He erected strong batteries on the northern extremity of Folly Island, Gen- 
eral Vodges being in command of that part of the line. In order to disguise the erection 



k 



460 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



of these batteries, Gillmore sent General A. H. Terry with 
six tlidusaiul men up tlic Stone River to make a f('int 
attack on lames Ishiiul, uliilc Colonel Higginson went 
lip the Etlislo witli two reginicnts of negro soldiers to 
destroy a section of the Charleston and Savannah Rail- 
road. Higginson failed, l)ut Terry reached James Island 
during the night of July 9, and landed. General Strong 
going with t\v» thousand men down Folly River in boatir 
to Liglithouse Inlet. At daybreak on the loth Terry's 
hastil)' constructetl batteries openetl hre on I'Ort Wagner, 
aidinl b\- the monitors, which threw tifteen-inch shells that 
soon crumbled the works. General Strong then advanced 
ami gained possession of the Confederate batteries on the 
northern end of Morris Island. The Confederates re- 
treatetl to Fort Wagner. Ihe next morning Strong made 
an assault on Fort Wagner, but was repulsed. 

General Gillmore now began siege approaches. He 
soon erected batteries across Morris Island, and on the 
1 8th opened fire on Fort Wagner, Dahlgren shelling both 
Fort Wagner and Fort Sumter. Fort Wagner responded 

with only two guns, which letl tiillmore to l)elieve that the Confederates were demoralized, 

so he ordered an assault. 

.\s the sun went in-low the horizon a terrific storm of rain and thunder began, in the 

midst of which the I'ederal column moved forward. The advance was held by Strong's 





• Foki Wagnkk 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



461 




BAriEKIESAOVINST FoRT SCMTHK 



46: 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



brioadf, ami incliKlcd a negro regiment, commanded by Colonel Robert G. Shaw. The 
supporting column consisted of General Putnam's brigade. These troops had to cross a 
strip of saiul eighteen hundred yards long. They were within two hundred yards of the 
fort before the Confederates opened fire with grape. With desperate courage Strong's 
brigade jiressed forward to the edge of the ditch, when a blaze of musketry Hashed from 
the parapet. With death staring every man in the face, the Federals began climbing the 
exterior slope of the fort. It was here that Sergeant Joseph AKah Wooster, of Company 
C. Governor's Foot Guard, and color-bearer for the Sixth Connecticut, performcil the brill- 
iant deed of valor that cost him his life. Wooster was ai)i)arcntly devoid of fear, for i;n 
every occasion that his regiment had gone into action he always managed to get into the 
tliickest of the tight. When given the colors in recognition of his bravery W^ooster's colonel 
cautioned him against unnecessarily exposing himself. Rut he never heeded the advice. 
When the Sixth Connecticut reached the fort Woosterscrambled up all alone in advance of the 




line and triumphantly placed his flag on the parapet.. Before the heroic sergeant's comrades 
could reach his side a Confederate soldier sprang forward, and placing the muzzle of his musket 
against Wooster's heart, fired. The next instant the color and its brave bearer fell, and no 
other flag appeared. Sergeant Wooster was a man of deep religious conviction, and always 
carried a small Testament in his blouse side pocket. Pasted inside the cover was a da- 
guerreotype of his little daughter, and he happened to have another copy of the picture 
wrapped in paper, which had been placed in his breast pocket. The fatal Confederate 
bullet that pierced Woosters heart passed through this second picture, tearing a jagged 
hole. Both pictures are still cherished by the daughter, now a happy wife and mother, as 
a sad but proud memorial of her gallant father. 

The slaughter of the Federal column was a fearful one, for the entire brigade was 
torn to pieces, and the Massachusetts negro regiment so murderously handled that not more 
than sixty men escaped, no cjuarter being shown. General Strong was mortally wounded, 
and Colonel Shaw was killed on the parapet, his body being riddled by musket balls. See- 
ing that Strong and his brigade had been destroved, General Putnam rushed forward with 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




.(04 



Till: MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



liis l)riu;ulc. 'I'lic t'lTort was, however, a vain one, for I'ulnani waskilK'tl, with nearly every 
commissioned oliicer in ihe hrioade. Torn an.l hh-'dln-, the remnants of Strong's and 
Putnam's romm.mds relireil, having hist over haU of their streiii^lh. 

This hitter lesson tau;^lit Ceneral Gilhnori! to rely on his sie^e operations. Parallel 
after parallel was opened, until hy Aiioust c) the I'ederal cannon wrre within three lunnhcd 
and thirty yards of I'ort Warner, the guns hein^ trained also on h'ort Sumier and liattery 
Grco-g. The General had a small battery huilt in a marsh wt'st of Morris Isl.uui, mount- 
in u" an eii^ht-inch Tarrott-rilled gun. The soldiers nicknamed this piece " I'Ik- Swamp 
.\n>'cl," and having a range of ti\e miles, it threw its enormous shells into the cit\- of 
Charleston. 

During all these preparations General luauregard's force's maintaini'd a continuous 




G.C.6TR0NG 



Maj Gen Gordon Grangei^. 



Maj Gen. A. H.Terry. 



anil severe artilK'ry liri' from over two huiulred guns. Hy August \~ Gillmore hail twi'lve 
heavy batteries ready on Morris Island. On that day the batteries and monitors began a 
simultaneous bombardment, mainly directed against F"ort .Sumter. For seven days this 
terrible fusillade continued, over ten thousand shells and si^liil shot being delivered, and Fort 
Sumter was battered into shapeless ruins. On September 5 a combinetl bomliarilment 
of Fort Wagner was begun, and continued witlunit cessation lor fort\-two hours. An as- 
.sault was arranged for the 9th, but when daylight came the forts were found to be aban- 
doned. It was also supposed that Fo.rt Sumter was tenantless, and some boat-loads of 
sailors were sent to take possession. As they landed, a terrible musketry volley was fired, 
placing nearly every man Jiors du combat. The blockade of Charleston harbor was, how- 
ever, assured. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



465 




Fort Slmter. 



466 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



467 




Interior View, »*yi'TjrQuARTERS br 

Vr, .. •,_. _ FEOtRAL (JARRISOW, 



468 



THE iM F.MORI A I. WAR BOOK. 



CHAl'ri:R LI. 

rOUKTKK-MOVF.MKXTS OF ROSKCKAXZ AM) liKAHG. 

Accorilirii;' to all previous ruK'S and precedents of war, the defeat of General Lees 
forces at Gettysburg, coupled with the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, sliould ha\ e 
ended the war. The Confederate government was distinctl)- refused recognition as an in- 
dependent autonomy h\' the European powiM's, antl it hatl lost a large slice of its territory 
while immense Federal armies were invading the remainder. But as many historic prece- 
dents had already been ignored by both the North and the South, their struggle was con- 
tinued with greater fury and determination for nearly two more years. Severe as had 
been the fighting, it was to be exceeded in the display of desperate valor by the men who 
wore the blue and the gray. The whole of luu'ope, with its millions of soldiers in bar- 
racks, observing an armed peace, stood amazed at the fury and extent of this mighty 
American internecine struggle, which was \ct to cause the sacrifice of nearly four hundred 
thousand human lives, and the maiming of twice as many men. 

When Rosecranz took possession of .Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in January, 1863, 
General Bragg held a formidable position on Duck Ri\er, his line extemling from Shelbv- 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



469 



ville to Spring Hill, through Wartrace, McMinnville, and Columbia. Havino- established 
his base of supplies at Chattanooga and Tullahoma, the Confederate commander placed 
strong outposts in Liberty and Hoover's Gaps, ten miles from Murfreesboro. P'or six 
months these two armies stood confronted, but only severe skirmishino- occurred between 
them. In February General Wheeler attempted the recapture of Fort Donelson. Wheeler 
summoned Colonel A. C. Harding to surrender. The Federal colonel had only six hun- 
dred men, but opened fire with his five cannon, sending a steamer down the Cumberland 
River to notify the Federal gunboats. The battle continued all day, Hardino- havino 
thirty-two men killed and ninety-four wounded, besides losing fifty more who were taken 




prisoners. Lieutenant Fitch arrived with the gunboat Fair Play just after dusk, and 
opened a raking fire on the Confederates, other gunboats coming up and compelling 
Wheeler to retreat and leave one hundred and fifty dead where they had fallen. While re- 
turning Wheeler encountered two brigades of Federal cavalry, under General J. C. Davis, 
and was severely handled. 

General John Colburn started out on March 4, with two thousand men, to attack 
Bragg's outpost at -Spring Hill. He encountered Forrest and V^an Dorn, when half his 
force was captured. About the same time General Sheridan marched with his di\ision to- 
ward Shelby ville. On March 14 he struck Van Dorn and Forrest at Thompson's Station 
and drove them to Duck River. On April 10 Van Dorn appeared at Franklin Station 
with ten thousand men, finding General Gordon Granger on the Harpeth River, strongly 
intrenched. With him were Generals G. C. Smith, Baird, Gilbert, and Stanley. A lively 



470 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




battle ensued, the Confederates retreating 

after heavy loss. 

Colonel A. D. Streight orjranizecl an 
expedition in Nashville, and going to Dover 
on transports, marched to Fort Henry and 
passed vip the Tennessee River to Eastport. 
l\ large Confederate cavalry force under 
Forrest and Roddy pursued Streight, who 
was destroying immense quantities of sup- 
plies. After several skirmishes, Streight's 
ammunition was exhausted and he was com- 
pelled to surrender. 

The Confederate army, under Bragg, was 
very strongly posted at Shelbyville, War- 
trace, and Tullahoma, besides holding pos- 
session of Hoover's and Liberty Gaps. 
Rosecranz decided to make a feint on Bragg's 
left and centre, while his main force was to 
try to turn the Confederate right tlank. 

On June 24 the Army of the Cumber- 
land broke camp. A tremendous rain-storm 
drenched man and horse, and rendered the 
roads almost impassable. Rosecranz had 



four corps under McCook, Thomas, Granger, and Crittenden. Rosecranz directed INIc- 
Cook to march toward Shelbyville, Thomas to Manchester, and Crittenden to McMinn- 
ville. Granger following McCook and Thomas. All of these movements were executed 
with precision and success. General Sheridan was at the head of McCook's column, while 
[dhnson and Davis turnetl with their divisions to the left, in the direction of Liberty Gap. 
Wilder's mounted infantry reached Hoover's Gap in advance of Thomas, and seizing the 
pass, captured one of Bragg's wagon trains and several hundred cattle. Liberty Gap was 
also seized by Willich's brigade, after a sharp, quick fight, in which the Federals captured 
the Confederates' tents, baggage, and supplies. Li the meantime. Granger arrived at 
Christiana, where he was joined by Stanley's cavalry division. Pushing rapidly toward 
Guy's Gap, Granger and Stanley took the pass after a severe engagement, driving the 
Confederates until they halted near Shelbjville. Here Stanley charged, and the Federals 
entered Shelbyville, Wheeler's cavalry escaping by swimming their horses across Duck 
River. 

All of Rosecranz's columns marched hurriedly through the several passes, and on 
June 27 army headquarters was established at Manchester. Bragg retired to Tullahoma 
General Wilder's cavalr) then struck the railroad at Dechard and destroyed several miles 
of track, Init the YAV River bridge remained intact. Bragg abandoned his position at 
Tullahoma on June 30, falling back to I^ridgeport, Alabama. 

Rosecranz had in six days driven Bragg froni his fortified positions and gained pos- 
session of Middle Tennessee. The campaign had been conducted amid almost continuous 
rain and extraordinary difficulties. Bragg showed his generalship by saving all of his artil- 
lery and military supplies, and by destroying the railroad as fast as his trains passed over it. 
Bragg then crossed the Tennessee River at Bridgeport, burned the bridge, and entered 
Chattanooga. 

When Burnside started to co-operate with Rosecranz a Confederate force of twenty 
thousand men, under Cienerd Simon B. Buckner, occupied Knoxville, but on Burnside's 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



471 



approach fell back to Chattanooga. The F"ederals then entered Knoxville on September 3. 
So precipitate had been Buckner's retreat that the Federals came into possession of all the 
railroad rolling stock and machine shops. On September 7 General Shackelford invested 
Cumberland Gap. When General Frazier, the Confederate commander, received a sum- 
mons to surrender he promptly refused, but on Burnside's arrival with more troops the 
brave officer surrendered with his two thousand men on September 9. By these movements 
the entire valley lying between the Cumberland and Alleghany Mountains fell into the 
possession of the Federal forces. 

The Federal and Confederate authorities now reinforced their respective armies in 
and around Chattanooga. Buckner joined Bragg, Johnston's brigades arrived from Missis- 
sippi, and Polk hastened up from Alabama with a strong force, while Lee was ordered 
to detach Longstreet's corps. Another conscription was made, and the men paroled at 
Vicksburg and Port Hudson were placed in the ranks, Bragg soon having eighty thousand 
men at his disposal. On the Federal side, General Hurlbut was directed to cover Corinth 
and Tuscumbia. Grant, Pope, and Schofield were ordered to send all the men they could 
spare. The two immense armies then prepared for a desperate and momentous struggle. 




Brig Gen, J.M.5HACKLEroRD. 



Brig- Gen, A.D.6TRAIGHT 



47' 



J HE MEMORJAl. WAR BOOK. 



cn,\rTi':k iji. 



TIIK TWt) DAYS liATTI.E OK ( II ICK AM Al'CA. 

It was n<n until Atimist 20 tliat (icneral Rosccranz s Army of tlu; Cumberland ar- 
rived in force on the banks of the Tennessee River. Bridges were thrown across. McCook 
moving over witii two of his divisions at Caperton's Ferry, .Sheridan crossiui^- at I^rid^Te- 
port, the corps concentrating at Winston's Gap. TJiomas' corps went over bv three 
routes, one tlivision crossing at Cajierton's I'"err\-, another at .Shell Mound, and the third 
at Hattle Creek. They met at Trt'nton, and then mo\cd b\- .Suxcns' and Coo])er's Gaiis, 
through Lookout Mountain into McLemore's Cove. Crittenden's corps crossed at Battle 
Creek ami moved direct for Chattanooga. On September 8 Thomas occupied Trenton, 
and held Cooper's and Stevens' Gaps, on Lookout Mountain, while McCook was at X'allcy 
Heat! ami Crittenden had reached Wauhatchie, with his left Hank resting on Thomas. 
These dispositions caused Bragg to e\acuate Chailanooga and mass his forces at Lafay- 
ette. General Crittenden's signal men discovered the movement, and the Federals entered 
Chattanooga on September 9. This bloodless entrance into Chattanooga gave Rosecranz 
an opi)ortunity for crushing Bragg which he did not improve. 

Intoxicated by his success, Rosecranz incautiously scattered his army throughout 
the mountain, instead of concentrating it. Thomas marched toward Lafayette, Crittenden 
went to Ringgold, and McCook moved to Summer Creek. General Thomas soon discov- 
ered that Bragg was reall>- moving forward to the attack, while Rosecranz was occupying 
a line fifty-seven miles long, from Chickamauga to Alpine. Bragg also committed an 
error in waiting for a week before engaging, the dela)- giving Rosecranz time to concen- 
trate, and on September 18 he was in tolerably good shape. 

The Indian word "Chickamauga" means "The River of Death," rather an ominous 
one for a battlefield. The creek rises where Pigeon Mountain and Missionary Ridge 
join, and (lows to the north past Crawfish Spring to Lee and Gordon's Mills on the Chat- 
tanooga and Lafayette road, and finally enters 
the Tennessee River a mile aboxe the town. 
It was along the course of this creek that the 
engagement was to' be fought. Rosecranz oc- 
cupied the west bank, his right wing resting on 
Lee anil Gortlon's Mills, while his left was near 
Rossville, with his reserves between Chattanoooa 
and the right fiank. 

Chattanooga is a Cherokee wort], and signifies 
" Hawk's Nest," the region being part of the 
Appalachian Range. The outlying spurs around 
Chattanooga are known as Missionar)- Rid^i-e, 
(-hickamauka Hills, Lookout Mountain, Pioeon 
Mountain, and Raccoon Mountain. The town 
stands on the south bank of the Tennessee River, 
at the mouth of the Chattanooga \'alley. This 
beautiful and fertile valle>- is formed by Mission- 
ary Ridge on the east and by Lookout Mountain 
on the west, while the Chattanooga Ri\er mean- 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. All 



ders through it toward the Tennessee River. Between Pigeon Mountain and Missionary 
Ridge lies a smaller valley, the Chickamauga. 

General Braver had now been joined by Hood's division, of Longstreet's corps, and 
Buckner's from East Tennessee. He decided to throw his main body around the Federal 
left, to uncover Chattanooga, sending Wheeler's cavalry against the Federal right to cover 
his flankinf movement. The weather was clear and pleasant, being an ideal battle morn- 
ing. Brao-g succeeded, on the night of September i8, in throwing Hood's and talk's thirty 
thousand men across Chickamauga Creek before Thomas discovered the fact. At ten 
o'clock the head of the Confederate column was discovered, when Thomas ordered Bran- 
nan to take his brigade to Reed's Bridge and cut off the Confederates, while Baird's bri- 
gade was to move on Alexander's Bridge. Scarcely had Brannan and Baird got in motion 
when they discovered that they were attacking an overwhelming force. A fierce battle en. 
sued. The Confederates were driven back, however, until Liddle's division came up, and 
the Federals were forced to retreat with the loss of two entire batteries and five hundred 
men. Lieutenant \'an Pelt held his guns until he was killed. Seeing the importance of 
the Confederate movement, Thomas sent in Reynolds' division, Avhile McCook ordered up 
Johnson's division and Crittenden sent Palmer's division. The* Federals were now able to 
outflank the Confederates, and being the strongest, drove them pellmell on their reserves, 
\'an Pelt's battery being retaken. 

At five o'clock two Confederate divisions, under Generals Gist and Liddle, charged 
on Revnolds' right, while another force moved on Baird, Van Cleeve, and Johnson, so 
that the battle line extended from Alexander's Bridge to McDaniel's House and Reed's 
Bridge. The Confederate onslaught was so terrible that the Federal line began breaking 
in an alarming way, and Thomas' entire corps stood in sudden peril. Then one of those 
curious incidents occurred which so often serve to turn the tide of battle. When the Con- 
federate flanking movement was fully developed it was suddenly remembered that four of 
the Federal reserve batteries, comprising twenty-one pieces, had been left on the Ross- 
ville road, beyond the left of Thomas' line, entirely without infantr)- supports. General 
Hazen's brigade was ordered to bring in the guns. Hazen found the artillery already occupy- 
ing a ridge which commanded the ground on which Gist and Liddle were driving back the 
Federal divisions. Hastily placing his infantry under these twenty-one guns, Hazen re- 
mained silent until the Confederate flank was fully exposed. No sooner had Liddle and 
Gist reached his line of fire than Hazen ordered the batteries to begin. The discharge 
of twenty-one double rounds of canister actually tore the Confederate ranks into tatters. 
Blinded by the smoke of the Federal guns. Gist's and Liddle's divisions stood for a few 
minutes, amazed, then fell back on the creek in dire confusion. Rosecranz's left was thus 
saved, and at sunset the fighting ended. 

On the Federal right there had been another attack, when Hood advanced three bri- 
gades and captured a Federal batter)'. Following this up. Hood sent two divisions against 
Davis, of McCook's corps, driving him back and capturing the Indiana battery. Sheridan 
then sent one of his brigades, under Bradley, to the assistance of Davis, when the Federals 
charged with such impetuosity that they drove back the Confederates, recaptured the 
Indiana guns, and took several hundred prisoners. 

During that night General Longstreet arrived at Bragg's headquarters. Having this 
experienced general at hand, Bragg divided his forces into two bodies, the one on his right 
continuing under command of General Polk, while General Longstreet assumed control 
of the left wing. Polk had Breckinridge's and Cleburne's divisions, of Hill's corps; 
Cheatham's division, of Polk's corps, and the division commanded by General W. H. \. 
Walker. Longstreet's forces consisted of Johnson's, Preston's, and Stewart's divisions, of 
Buckner's corps ; Hood's division, consisting of Lane's, Benning's, and Robertson's brigades; 



474 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Hindman's division, of Polk's corps, and iluinplirey's and Kershaw's brigades, from Mc- 
Laws' division. 

Tlic next dav was .Sunda\', September 20, antl llie sunrise had that blood-red color 
that betokens a hot day. W hile the mountain-tops were batlied in golden and ros)' lints, 
a cool mist I'-athered in the beautiful valley, being densest along- the line of Chickamauga 
Creek. Every bird and four-footed denizen of the forest had been driven away by the 
tierce sounds of the previous day's battle, and there was nothing to disturb the silence. In 
days of peace the sound of village church bells might have been heard, but they were now 
mute on this Sabbath morn, in the presence of two trained and opposing armies. 

General Bragg decided to begin the battle at dawn, and General Polk was ordered to 
open the attack on Rosecranz's left, the Confederate line to move forward from right to 




left in swift succession. Daylight came, and the sun rose, yet there was no sound of Polk's 
guns. Impatient and amazed at the delay, Bragg sent an aide to ascertain the cause. 
The staff officer found tlu- Bishop and his staff stretched at their ease, under some wide- 
spreading trees, enjoying a substantial breakfast. 

"General Bragg wishes to know, sir, why you have not attacked the enemy," said the 
aide, astonished at the scene. 

"I cannot understand myself why General Hill has not begun long ago," responded 
Polk, equably. "I ordered him to open the action at dawn, and 1 am now waiting to hear 
his guns. Uo tell General Bragg, sir, that my heart is overtlowing with anxiety for Hill's 
attack — actually overflowing with anxiety," and thtm the Episcopal soldier resumed his 
breakfast, the mortified aide declining to join him. 

It subsequently turned out that Polk stated the exact truth, but General Hill was far 
in the rear at Tedford's Ford, and the order to attack did not reach him until an hour 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



475 



after sunrise. Meanwhile, Rosecranz had not been idle. Thomas' position on the left 
remained unchanged, and he had received Negley's, Palmer's, and Johnson's divisions to 
strengthen it. McCook was well closed up on Thomas, and Crittenden stood in reserve 
behind the Federal centre. About nine o'clock Breckenridge's division advanced on Thomas' 
line. With appalling suddenness the Confederate cannonading and musketry began, 
and the Sabbath silence was at last broken. Breckenridge's attack was a magnificent one, 
his infantry line being perfectly aligned, and as steady as a rock. General Cleburne was 
on Breckenridge's left, in the same excellent order. Opening fire at close musket range, 
Breckenridge swung round on Thomas' fiank, while Cleburne moved directly against the 
Federal breastworks. Both the Confederate divisions encountered a galling fire, but they 
were not checked. Facing a continuous and most destructive series of musketry volleys, 
accompanied by rapid discharges of grape and canister from Thomas' field guns, the South- 




erners pushed forward. Losing men at every step, whole lines being at times mowed 
down, they went steadily forward. Breckenridge was sweeping round the Federal flank, 
and Cleburne gained considerable ground, while Thomas sent aide after aide urgently ask- 
ing Rosecranz for assistance. 

Bragg had set his heart on turning Rosecranz's left, and learning how well Brecken- 
ridge and Cleburne were doing their work, he rushed division after division to that part of 
the field. But Rosecranz was as swift in reinforcing Thomas, and the battle continued 
with unabated fury. Soon after the attack on the Federal left, General Sheridan discov- 
ered a gap between his division and the main body, caused by the movement of reinforce- 
ments toward Thomas. Laiboldt's brigade and two brigades of Davis' division filled it. 
Longstreet now began pressing forward, Davis being seriously engaged. Seeing this, 
Sheridan contemplated sending in Lytle's and Bradley's brigades, when he received orders 
to send them to Thomas, who seemed to have the bulk of Bragg's army on top of him. 



470 



Tim MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Scarcely had Lytle and Brad- 
ley started when a fresh Con- 
federate line appearetl before 
Davis, whicli doubled him up 
and sent his men ilyinjj;- in 
confusion. General iMcCook 
ordered Laii)oldt to charge, 
which he did in good style, 
but the opposing body was tm. 
strong, and his brigade also 
broke. Lytle and Bradley were 
still within call, so Sheridan 
threw them forward, when they 
met a volley which fairly shat- 
tered both lirigades. McCook's 
corps tried next to stem the 
torrent, but the Federals were 

driven from the ridge with se- MAJ (lEN J.M.BRANNOM. 
vere loss, among the killed l)e- 
ing General William H. L\tle. 

General Thomas' men 
were still fighting valiantly on 
the extreme left ; when his re- 
inforcements arrived they were 
ordered in, to give his own 
corps a breathing spell. Then 
Vanderveer's and Stanley's 
brigades charged Brecken- 

ridge's line, driving it back with great slaughter, the Confederate General, Helmond 
Desher, being killed. General D. Adams severely wounded, and the Chief of Artillery, 
Major Graves, mortally wounded. General Breckenridge now turned on a ridge, and putting 
his batteries at work, stood fast with the assistance of Cheatham and Walker, who reinforced 
his line. The Confederates then again moved forward, but General Thomas had taken a 
new position on Missionary Ridge, with his left on the Laf;iyette road. Knowing that 
McCook's and Crittenden's corps were retreating to Chattanooga in the utmost confusion, 
Bragg ordered Polk to press Thomas, hoping to capture his entire command. Thomas, 
however, doggedly stuck to his position, and could not be shaken from it. 

Despite the efforts of McC^ook and Sheridan, the latter was finall)- cut off, and he had 
to fall back to Missionary Ridge, where he was joinc'd by Carlin's brigade, of Davis' divi- 
sion, both marching to Rossvilk; by the Lafayette road. They reached the hamlet at 
five o'clock, tintling there eight pieces of artillery, fift)-six caissons, and a long ammunition 
train. Organizing an impromptu battery, Sheridan marched his column toward Thomas' 
position, arriving in time to cover the retreat of the left wing an hour or two after sunset. 

General Longstreet had meanwhile advanced with his entire force on both McCook 
and Crittenden, finding them in such confusion that they were easily driven back. Gen- 
eral Rosecranz had meanwhile ridden off to Chattanooga, so McCook and Crittenden fol- 
lowed, the mo\('mcnt being disgracefully disorderly. 

Having succeeded in this movement, Longstreet now turned on Thomas, taking ad- 
vantage of an opening in the hills which entered a gorge directly in rear of the Federals. 
Through this gully his columns poured like a might)- wave, and the heroic Thomas found. 




MajGen,J.J.)?eynold5. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



477 



himself attacked on flank and rear. General Gordon Granger, who had been waiting for 
orders at Rossville, knew from the increased cannonading that Thomas must be sorely 
pressed, so decided to go forward on his own responsibility. Arriving on the ground with 
Steadman's division, Granger threw his men on the crest of the hill commanding the gorge 
Longstreet was already entering. Steadman's guns immediately opened a rapid discharge 
of grape on Longstreet's two divisions as they approached in a dense mass, the effect 
being terrible, for the missiles destroyed the leading battalions. It was the brigades of 
Mitchell and Whittaker that led this Confederate charge, but they were compelled to fall 
back through the gorge, bleeding and broken. 

This ended the battle, and Thomas withdrew in the evening to Rossville, having held 




his lines unbroken during the entire day. In fact, Rosecranz had, in sending him nearly 
two-thirds of his entire force, left Thomas to fight the battle at discretion while he went 
to Chattanooga to prepare for the retrograde movement he had only himself made possi- 
ble. The stubborn courage of Thomas and his men had, however, saved the Federal 
army from destruction. 

The battle of Chickamauga was a victory for the Confederates, but a very costly one, 
like that of Bull Run and Chancellorsville. Bragg's loss was nearly eighteen thousand 
men, Rosecranz's over sixteen thousand, and fifty-one pieces of cannon, the Confederates 
also picking up seventeen thousand muskets on the abandoned battlefield. General Rose- 
cranz was subsequently relieved of his command, two of his corps commanders, McCook 
and Crittenden, retiring with him. 



47^ 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



CHAPTKR LI 11. 



THE KATTI.KS OF ORCHARD KNOH AND l.OOKtIUT MOUNTAIN. 

Not onlyclitl Cu-neral Bragg ailminister defeat to General Rosecranz at Chickamauga, 
he actually shut up the Federal army and its commander in Chattanooga. While Generals 
Thomas, Sheridan, and Granger made their orderly retreat, the corps under Generals Crit- 
tenden and IMcCook were panic-stricken, and Rosecranz seems to have been as demoralized 
as his men. The roads were lined with abandoned cannon, caissons, and wagons, while 
over fields and through woods streamed disordered detachments and groups of fugitives. 
Had Longstreet refrained from attacking Thomas and followed Rosecranz's left wing in- 
stead, the Confetlerates would have undoubtedly captured the greater part of it. Having 
got the remnant of iiis army together, Rosecranz proceeded to fortify Chattanooga, and 
was so strongly intrenched inside of twenty-four hours that Bragg could not safely attack 
him. The Confederate general then decided to cut off all the Federal lines of communica- 
tion. He seized the south bank of the Tennessee River at Moccasin Point, and the roads 
between Chattanooga and Bridgeport. By destroymg the railroad, he prevented access to 
Nashville, where Rosecranz's base of supplies had been located. The only way the Federal 
general could get rations was by wagons over a circuitous road along the Tennessee and 
Sequatchie valleys, where the trains were so exposed to attack that they were frequently 

captured or destroyed by Bragg's cavalry. 
The Army of the Cumberland was, there- 
fore, reduced to extremity, being soon on 
the verge of starvation. No less than ten 
thousand horses and mules perished in the 
effort to procure food. 

General Grant was then summoned 
to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he met 
Secretary Stanton, who handed him an 
order from President Lincoln conferring 
upon him the command of the new Mili- 
tar\' Drpartmt-nt of the Mississippi, com- 
prising the armies and departments of the 
Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland. The 
hero of \'icksburg was at that time on 
crutches, he having sustained severe injury 
by the fall of his horse in New Orh-ans, 
where he hatl gone to visit Banks and 
perfect plans for advancing tm Mobile. 
While Grant and Stanton were conversing 
the latter received a despatch from his 
Assistant Secretary, Charles A. Dana, 
announcing that Rosecranz contemplated 
e\acualing Chattanooga. At Grant's sug- 
gestion, Rosecranz was at once relieved 
of his command, and General Grant tele- 
graphed to Thomas that he was to assume 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



479 



command of the Army of the Cumberland, 
adding, " Hold Chattanooga at all hazards." 
In an hour the wires Hashed back the reply 
of the hero of Chickamauga, " I will hold the 
town until we starve." 

Preparations were now made for a vigor- 
ous campaign. General Sherman was given 
the command of the Army of the Tennessee, 
and troops were hurried forward from all 
directions. General .Slocum's Twelfth Corps 
and General Howard's Eleventh Corps were 
detached from Meade's Army of the Potomac, 
and, being placed under the command of 
General Joseph Hooker, transferred to the 
West. The transportation of these twenty- 
three thousand men, with their artillery, 
wagons, baggage, animals, ordnance, and com- 
missary supplies, from the Rapidan River, in 
Virginia, to Stevenson, Alabama, a distance of 
eleven hundred and ninety-two miles, was ac- 
complished by railroad in the short space of 
seven days, a most marvellous feat. 

General Grant reached Nashville on Oc- 
tober 21, where he met Rosecranz and Hooker. 
Two days after he was at Chattanooga, only 
to find the troops without .shoes or clothing, all 
the food exhausted, and positively none in sight. 

Telegraphing to General Burnside to hold 
Knoxville, he asked Admiral Porter at Cairo 
to send gunboats to convey transports carrying 
rations from -St. Louis for .Sherman's army, 
which was moving up the Mississippi to join 
him. On October 24 Grant made a personal 
inspection of the country, accompanied by 
General Thomas and General W. F. Smith, 
his engineer-in-chief. Grant found that Bragg's 
intrenched line began on Missionary Ridge, 
extending along the crest and across Chat- 
tanooga Valley to Lookout Mountain. Here 
the Confederate fortifications were very strong, 
and their line crossed Lookout Valley to and 
over Raccoon Mountain. That night the plan 
of operations was decided upon. General 
Hooker, who had reached Bridgeport with 
his two corps, was ordered to cross the Ten- 
nessee and march up by Wauhatchie and 
Whitesides to Brown's P'erry. General Palmer, 
with one division of the P"ourteenth Corps, 
was to move down the river by a back road 
CO Whitesides, when he was to cross and 



m 



4i:^o 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



hold llic roail in rear of Hooker. General Smith, with tux'iity-two hunclrccl pickctl men 
was to march cUirint;- the niyht along the north ])aiik ol the? rixerto llrown's Im rry, rarr\ini4- 
material for laying a bridge. General Ha/en was given eighteen hundred men, wlio were 
to lloat down in the darkness, in sixty pontoon boats, and on reaching Brown's l'"erry, he 
was to capture the Confederate pickets on the sonth bank. These movements were suc- 
cessfully made on October 26, antl on tlie following day two new bridges made the 
connections compli'te, so that the ri\er was ojjened to the bederals from Lookout X'alley 
to Bridgeport. Tlu-n the ami)- received full rations and an abundance of clothing and 
ammunition. On tliscovering the opening of the Federal supply line, Bragg attempted 
to close it. During the night of October 28 Longstreet's corps attacked Geary at W'au- 
hatchie, when Howard was ordered u]) b\- Hooker. By the time he reached Geary it 




was tjuite dark, and the fighting was conducted by the tlashes of the opposing muskets. 
Amid the uproar, the bedtiral teamsters deserted their mules, and the animals, becoming 
frightened, broke loose and stampeded toward tlie Confederates, who, taking it for a 
cavalry charge, stampeded in turn. 

General Grant had a habit that freepiently led liim into [)ersonal danger. He was 
fond of riding off alone, investigating his line and that of the entniy. The da\ after the 
skirmish jivst described Grant rode along his line and heard a l'"ederal picket sentinel 
call out "Turn out the guard for the commanding general.'' Grant, as usual, replied, 
"Never mind the guard." To his astonishment a Confederate sentinel, on the opposite 
bank of the creek, then shouted, '"Turn out the guard for (ieneral Grant." The Confed- 
erate picket, instantly falling in, faced the Federal general and presented arms. General 
Grant returned the unexpected salute, and rode on. A few days after this incident the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



481 









Views on Lookout Mointain. 



.I»J 



////■ .]/i:m(^/</.\i. n.iA- /;(>(>/\ 



(icncral canu- to a irrc lliat h.ul l.ill<-n across the creek aiul was useil amicaM)' l>y the oppos- 
iii"' nickels in olitainini; clear waler. I .(in'^slreel's corps at that lime wore kaiioiiean 
iii\ifi)rms somewhat simihir in color to the I'Cileral Mtie. SeeinL; a soldier silling on the 
l()i<-, ("Irani rmle up ami he-^an conxi'rsiiiL; wiili liim, linally asking whose corps he lulonL^eil 
(,,^ I li(> man was very polite, toiu luil his hat in salute, and replied, " 1 lu-lon^- to Geiu-r.d 
1 .on^sirei'l's corps, sir." 

On Novemher .| ('leneral 1 ,on!.;streei leli I'ra^e's lines with twenty ihousand men lo 
move against Hurnside. r>\ this time Sherman had arri\(d at ihid^eport. This move- 
ment ol Sherman's was a ri-markaMe one, loi- it was necessary to reliuild the railroad l>e- 
iween N.isluiile and l)ecatni-, and thence to Stevenson, where the Memphis and Cliarles- 
lon and the Nashville and lhallanooL;a i.iilroads unite. Cieiural ("i. M. I )oilyt; was an 
experienced i.iilroad Iniilder. lie lorj^ed the necessary tools, cut timher (or ties, repaired 




l.o,.K..ri M 



locomotives ami cars, depending- entirelv on the soldicM-s in his command lor workmen. 
General Sherman left X'icksburL; on September j;, and reached riiscnmhia exaclK- i-'nc 
month later, having- two or three minor engai^emenls on the vv.iv. The l-\-deral plan lor 
battle was arrano;ed on November i S. C'irant tlecided that Sherman should attack HraL;i;s 
ri<;lu llank. and extend his left over South Chickamau^a River, and so threaten the Con- 
federate line of communication. Hooker w.is to enter Chattanoo«;a X'allev and advance 
on Missionary Ridge, while Thomas, with the old Armv of the Cinnberlan«.l, was to make a 
direct assault on Hragg's centre. .As .Slui lu.m h.td unexpecteil tlitticulty in crossing at 
Brown's Ferry, the concerted attack did not occur until the 23tl. General Thomas' army 
moved out of Chattanooga imder bright sunshine, in magnilicent condition. Sheridan's divis- 
ion was on the extreme right, with Wood's on the left, two of P. timer's divis'ons hokling 
the centre, one division uiuler |ohnson beiiv' rei.iined in the intrenchmenls as reserve. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



483 



Howard's corps was massed behind Granger's. When the long line of infantry moved for- 
ward the heavy guns opened fire, and it was not long fjefore General Wood reached the 
base of Orchard Knob. Charging in gallant style, Wood's division carried the Knob, and a 
heavy Ijattery was now sent to occupy the Knob. Meanwhile a brigade of cavalry had swept 
round the Confederate right, and getting into Bragg's rear, burned Tyner's Station, cut the 
railroad running to Cleveland, capturing one hundred wagons, and destroying consider- 
able supplies. Sherman reached the south side of the Tennessee, while Hooker was ready 
for his dash through Rossville Gap on Missionar)- Ridge. 

November 24 proved to be a drizzly day, the mist concealing the movements of the 
Federal forces. About three o'clock Sherman took possession of the northern extremity 




Capjtrighl. l!!3b, ty L. Prang <:' Co, 



of Missionar}- Ridge, and intrenched himself in a strong position. Soon after daylight 
Geary, of Hooker's command, began crossing the Lookout Creek, at Wauhatchie, with his 
division and Whittaker's brigade, while the remainder of the force threw bridges over the 
swollen stream. Gear)' surprised the Confederates, capturing their pickets, while Hooker's 
other divisions came up in fine style. The Federals then dashed across the valley, sweep- 
ing ever)thing before them, until they finally reached the base of Lookout Mountain, 
pushing in the Confederate skirmish line, though it was well posted in rifle pits. 

Hooker had now three divisions west of Lookout Creek: Osterhaus', Geary's, and 
Cruft's. Gear>' was on the right, at Wauhatchie, Cruft at the centre, and Osterhaus near 
Brown's Ferry. Facing these were three Confederate brigades, under General Carter L. 



484 



rilE MEMO RIAL WAR BOOK. 




M.C.GRAHAM. 

ilOTSSNOISMrSIOfS 



j*pil»f?'i'«^ 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



485 



Stevenson. The face of Lookout Mountain in front of Hooker was rut^ged, heavily tim- 
bered, and broken by deep chasms, yet it was this terrible ascent that Hooker's men now 
prepared to make in face of cannon and musket. 

General Grant stood on the top of Orchard Knob watching Hooker's movement. 
From that position the General could see that his line was continuous and perfect, being in 
full view, extending from the Tennessee River, where Sherman had crossed, up Chlcka- 
mauga River to the base of Mission Ridge, over the top of the north end of the Ridge to 
Chattanooga Valley, then along parallel to the Ridge a mil<: or more, across the valley to 
the mouth of Chattanooga Creek, thence up the; slope of Lookout Mountain to the foot of 
the upjjer palisade. General Hooker had so wi-ll timed the movements of his divisions 




that, as Geary dashed across the Crc-ek at Wauhatchie, General Osterhaus was rapidly ad- 
vancing from Brown's I'erry, with Cruft within close supporting distance. The New 
York and Ohio batteries now took position on Bald Hill and other eminences, and began 
a severe cannonading with solid shot and shell. The Confederate; position that Hooker 
proposed to attack being perchc-d on the mountain side, the Federal guns had to be ele- 
vated to the last twist of the screw, their fire proving very effective. Under cover of 
this artillery discharge. Hooker's men began climbing. Rushing up the rugged side of the 
mountain, leaping from one rocky ledge to another, scrambling over huge boulders, and 
cutting away the confused abalis of felled timber, the I-"ederals drove the Confederates be- 
fore them. At times the advance lines were almost at the. muzzle of the enemy's cannon 
before the gunners gave waj-. As Osterhaus' division moved forward, Geary led his men 
along the face of the steep incline, just beneath the Confederate batteries, and then rushed 
up to complete the assaulting line. For over three hours did this extraordinary mountain 



4S6 



THE mi: MO RIAL WAR BOOK. 



battle continue, but, despite the desperate and stul)l)orn resistance offered by General Stev- 
enson's britjades, the Federals gained grountl, foot h}- foot, until at last they rcachetl the 
I)ase of the Palisades, finding the Confederates Hying down the sloijc toward Chattanooga 
X'alley. Owing to the drizzly atmosphere, Hooker's mo\( nunl was fre(|uenll\- hidden by 
the rifts of mist which clung to the face of the mountain, and this fact has given it the 
name of "The Battle yXbove the Clouds." 

General Hooker did not deem it prudent lo make a pursuit, so he cstalilishcd his line 
on the east side of Lookout Mount. lin. At sunset the mists tlisappearcd, the wild huul- 
scape being bathed in bright moonlight. As a Confederate force still occujiied the moun- 
tain summit, Hooker started detachments from several regiments to scale the i^disatles. 
The Kighth Kentucky was the first to reach Pulpit Rock, finding the position abandoned, 
the Confederateslcaving behind them twenty thousand rations, all tluir camp e<|aipage, and 
a considerable quantity of ammunition. .At sunrise of Nox't-mbi r 25 these Kentuck\" sol. 
iliiis unliu-letl the Stars ami Stripes on Pulpit Rock, the crisp, clear air in the \alle)' below 
beinsj lilK-d with the cheers of their conu-ades. 




Chaitanooga, Tenn. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



487 



CHAPTER LIV. 

BATTLE OF MISSIOXARV klDIlK AXO SIEIIE OE KXflXVILLE. 

The sanguinarj- battles of Orchard Knob and Lookout Mountain broke the Con- 
federate investing line, while Grant's was unassailable, though much extended. The 
Federals now occupied a strong position from Lookout Mountain, across the Chattanooga 
Valley, up to the northern end of Missionary Ridge. The two gaps between Grant's centre 
and the right and left wings were filled by Generals Carlin and Howard. Being compelled 
to abandon the Chattanooga Valley, Bragg concentrated his entire army on Missionary 
Ridge, the Confederate line extending from Tunnel Hill to near Rossville. Hardie 




Okchak.) Ks..b 



occupied the Confederate right with Cheatham's, Cleburne's, Stevenson's, and Walker's 
divisions. The left was commanded by Breckenridge, with Anderson's, Lewis', and Stew- 
art's di\'isions. 

When the Kentuckians raised the Federal ilag on Pulpit Rock the sun had already 
risen in a cloudless sky, and as its bright rays flooded valley and mountain, the}' were caught 
and reflected by long lines of glittering steel. Missionary Ridge fairly swarmed with Con- 
federate troops, while the summit was occupied by frowning masses of artillery. Hooker's 
divisions held Lookout Mountain and spread down into the valley, where Thomas' Cumber- 
land veterans stood in solid phalanx, while on the left could be discerned Sherman's compact 
lines. Seldom has a battle begun under a brighter sun than that of November 25, 1863. 

Grant had ordered Hooker to attack Bragg's left, while Sherman was to advance 
against his right, Thomas being held in reserve. At six o'clock Grant's bugler sounded 



4S8 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




" I'orwartl," as he stood on top of Or- 
chard Knob, the refrain beint,^ taken up 
until the valley was filled with martial 
melody. Then Hooker's men be<,ran 
moving down the eastern slope of Look- 
out Mountain, sweeping across the valley 
in grand lines. Sherman was quite as 
l)rompt. From Orchard Knob Grant 
saw that IJragg was massing his main 
torce to meet Sherman, the opposing 
batteries soon beginning a fierce duel. 

General Sherman found himself under 
tire as he moved across the valley, but 
his men rushed forward and seized the 
opposite hill, only to discover that the 
grouiul consisted of a succession of low 
hills, each well fortified and wooded. 
\\ hen Corse's brigade reached the sec- 
ond crest they found it commanded by 
a higher one, from which the Confed- 
erates delivered a plunging fire. Between tliese hills was a gorge, through which passed a 
railroad tunnel. Here a desperate struggle occurred, lasting for over an hour, neither side 
o-ainino- any advantage. All that Corse could do was to cling to his position, several 
charges and counter-charges failing to shake either the Federal or Confederate forces from 
their respective crests. Generals Loomis and Smith, however, were able to get possession 
of the left spur of Missionary Ridge and the railroad embankment, thus relieving Corse. 
This part of the battle raged during the entire forenoon, and it grew more and more 
vengeful, until, at three o'clock, the crisis was reached. Bragg sent in column after column, 
and brought up every field piece he could spare, until, finally, it seemed impossible for Sher- 
man to retain the slight advantage he had gained. Indeed, to General Grant it appeared 
as if Sherman was losing ground, while in reality the Federals held the ground they had 
seized. The line was, however, sorely pressed ; General Corse had been wounded, and 
help was needed. Grant expected that Thomas would support Sherman, but he was 
delayed, as will be hereafter explained, so the divisions under Wood and Sheridan were 
ordered to charge. 

It was now two o'clock in the afternoon. The rapid discharge of six pieces of artil- 
lery was the signal, and as the last gun sent its shell shrieking through the sunshine both 
divisions moved steadily forward. The imposing line was soon saluted by a terrible storm of 
shot and shell, but the Federals pressed on through the timber, and, on reaching the plain, 
rushed forward with fixed bayonets. Not a shot was fired until after the skirmish line had 
been overtaken and absorbed, as the six brigades swept over the Confederate rifle pits. 
Then the men flung themselves on the earth for a breathing spell and to avoid the volleys 
of canister, grape, and musketry that were pouring down upon them. The Confederate 
prisoners were told to go to the rear without escort, which they did with alacrity, being 
exposed to the fire of their own comrades. In a few minutes the divisions were again 
on their feet, climbing the steep hill. The regimental color bearers entered into a rivalry 
as to which flag should "be farthest to the front ; first one would go forward a few paces, 
then another would come up to it, imtil, finally, every standard was planted on the inter- 
mediate works. 

This movement relieved Sherman of a part of the pressure upon him, and Bragg was 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



489 



compelled to weaken his centre. During all this time Hooker was endeavoring to carry 
out his part of the general plan. Pushing on to Rossville Gap, he found that the Confed- 
erates had destroyed the bridge across Chattanooga Creek, and it took over three hours to 
put the structure in proper shape. Then, rushing across, Hooker's men cjuickly occupied the 
Gap. General Osterhaus' division ne.xt moved along the eastern slope of the Ridge, while 
Geary's passed to the west, leaving Craft's on the Ridge itself. Despite their stiibl)orn 
resistance, the Confederates were steadily driven back by Cruft, until at sunset Hooker 
had not only pushed Breckenridge from the Ridge, but had taken several thousands of his 
men as prisoners. 

This was Grant's opportunit)-, and he quickly cmljraced it. With Sherman holding 




Bragg's right in check, and Hooker driving in his left, the final assault on his centre was 
to begin. Then General Thomas sent in Baird's and Johnson's brigades to assist Sheri- 
dan and Wood. In twenty minutes Missionary Ridge was a mass of flame, for every 
Confederate cannon and musket was in action ; but this storm of shell and grape, canister 
and bullet, did not check the Federal advance. The loss was, however, enormous. A 
few men of the First Ohio reached the crest on Bragg's centre, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
Langdon, who was instantly killed ; but more men came irp and widened the breach, until 
the Confederate line finally gave way and retreated, their abandoned cannon being turned 
against them. This ended the battle, forty cannon, seven thousand muskets, and an im- 
mense quantity of ammunition being added to the fruits of victor)-. 

Sherman, Hooker, and Palmer took up the pursuit early the following morning, Bragg 
having -fallen back in the direction of Ringgold. Sherman passed Chickamauga Station, 



490 



THE iMEMORIAI. WAR HOOK. 



which he found in flames, while Hooker and Pahncr moved over the Rossville Road. At 
Rinirirold General Hooker's coinnuind struck llu; Confetleralc rear, uiulcr General Cle- 
burne who turneil and made a most desperate tii^lu, which lasted nearly all day. This 
ended the pursuit, and Grant lurneil his attention to lUirnside, at Knoxville. Though 
the several en^fa'^ements on Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Riil^care 
usually known as the Three Days' Battle of ChattanooLja, the writer has chosen to sepa- 
rate them, in order that the reader may gain a proper conception of the scope and importance 
of these combined operations. 

The sieK"e that Longstreel hail entered on at Knoxville began on November i8, and 
it was pressed with vigor for t-leven days, sexcral engagements occurring, until, finally, the 
('onfederates crossed the Holston River and assumed a commanding position. TIkmi 




news of Bragg's defeat reached Longstreet, who, knowing that Grant would sentl Burnside 
relief, decided to carry Knoxville by storm. Fort Sanders, a work of great strength, and 
occupied by the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts, the Seventy-ninth New York, and companies 
from the Second and Twentieth Michigan, was selected as the point of attack. The fort 
contained twenty-six guns. McLaws' division, with the brigades of Anderson, Bogart, 
Humphreys, and Wolford, were selected for the task. The assault was made at da\light 
of November 29, and the columns forced their way through a network of wire that had 
been wound from stump to stump of the slashed timber. General I'errero, who com- 
manded the fort, used his guns with great effect, but the Confederates finally reached the 
parapet. An officer sprang to the summit with the flag of the Thirteenth Mississippi, de- 
manding surrendi-r. The next instant he fell dead, i>i<-rced by a tlozen bullets, and his 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



491 



body rolled into the ditch, his nerveless fingers still clutching the flag-staff. Again and 
again did the Confederates charge, only to be repulsed. Then the fighting ended, a flago 
truce being displayed, while Longstreet's men carried away their dead, dying, and wounded. 
General Granger had been ordered b\- Grant to start for Knoxville with twenty 
thousand men, but finding, on November 28, that Granger had not moved. Grant relied 
on Sherman, who at once marched. He reached Knoxville on December 5, finding the 
siege raised and Longstreet in retreat for Virginia. General .Sherman's troops had accom- 
plished a wonderful feat. They marched four hundred miles, and fought at Chattanooga, 
then marched one hundred and twelve miles to compel Longstreet to raise the siege of 
Knoxville. General Bragg went down before the storm of indignation in the South, and 
was relieved from his command. On the other hand, Congress gave Grant a gold medal 
and a vote of thanks. Such is the mutation of human affains — the victor is crowned with 
laurels ; tlie man v>-ho suffers defeat retires covered with obloquy. 







492 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



493 




494 



THE MEMORIAL WAR ROOK. 



CHAPTER LV. 

SHKKMAN's DKSrKUCTION t)l' MERIDIAN' AND HANKS' KKD KIVKR KX PHDII'ION. 

Desultory warfare of an unimportant character marked tin- close of 1S63, both in the 
East and the West. The armies under Meade and Lee went into winter quart(>rs, with 
the picturesque Rapidan River rolHng between them ; Thomas still occupied Chattanooga ; 
l-'oster replaced Burnside at Knoxville ; Sherman returned to Mississippi to co-operate 




with Ranks. On the Confederate side, Longstreet remain' d in Tennessee, and Johnston 
replaced Bragg in command of all the Confederate forces west of the Ohio River. The 
Army of the Potomac made an advance on Lee's w'inter camp, at Mine Run, in the depth 
of winter, but it amounted to nothing. In February, 1864, General Kilpatrick under- 
took a cavalry raid, the chief incident being the death of young Colonel Uhlric Dahlgren, 
son of the Admiral, and a very promising officer, who had alread\- lost a foot in the service, 
though onK- twenty-one. 

This raid was Kilpatrick"s first independent movement, and adiled to his fame. No 
man was as happy as he when in the saddle, though he did not present a good appearance 
on horseback, for he rode more like a Comanche Indian than the pupil of a school of 
equitation. But he could fight like a Comanche. In fact, he was always fighting, and he 
taught his men to do the same. When on a raid or endeavoring to intercept a Confeder- 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



495 



ate supply train he moved with startling rapidity, and it was no unusual thing to find his 
route marked by disabled horses and dismounted men. He was a very genial man person- 
ally, though he could swear like a trooper when excited. His men called him " Kill," as 
suggestive of his destruction of Confederate property and his expenditure of horseflesh. 

.Sherman organized an expedition in February, 1864, against Meridian, Miss., a posi- 
tion of great importance to the Confederacy, as it controlled all the railroads in that sec- 
tion and the communications with Mobile and Wilmington. With seven thousand horse- 
men, General W. Sooy Smith started out from Memphis to destroy railroads and bridges, 
while Sherman began marching with four divisions from Vicksburg, gne column be- 
ing l(-d b\- McPherson, the other by Hurlbut. General .Smith failed to move on time, and 




soon after crossing the Tallahatchie River was outflanked by Forrest, at Okolono, and 
compelled to fall back to New Albany. Sherman reached Meridian on February 14, Polk 
precipitately retiring to Demopolis. Ten thousand men were set at work, destroying over 
one hundred miles of railroad, sixty bridges, rolling stock, depots, arsenals, saw-mills, 
warehouses, hotels, and military cantonments. Only private dwellings were spared by the 
torch. The work of destruction also involved Decatur, Bolton, Jackson, IMarion, Enter- 
prize, Quitman, Hillsboro, Canton, Lake Station, and Lauderdale. This action of Sher- 
man's raised a storm of anger throughout the South, and led to some cruel reprisals. 

General N. B. Forrest had, up to this time, achieved a high reputation as a Confed- 
erate cavalry raider. After the destruction of Meridian and vicinity, Forrest tore through 
the country, capturing small garrisons and sustaining repulses in equal ratio. He lost a 
large number of men, among them General Thompson, who was struck on the breast by a 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



497 




Scenes in Camp of Army of Potomac, August to December, i 



498 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




SCBNES IN THeCaMI' OF ARMY OF PorOMAt, DkCEMBEK, 1S62. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



499 



bursting shell at Fort Anderson. Fort Pillow lay in Forrest's path, and here the General 
violated the honorable instincts of a soldier. Fort Pillow was occupied by three hundred 
and fifty white soldiers, under Major W. F. Bradford, and two hundred colored troops, 
under Major L. F. Booth. It stood on a high bluff, and contained six guns. Forrest 
attacked on April 13, the garrison resisting with great bravery. Major Booth being killed 
early in the day. A lull in the battle occurred at noon, and Forrest sent a flag of truce, 
demanding unconditional surrender. While Major Bradford was consulting with his 
officers two more flags were sent, but the garrison decided to fight it out. Then it was 
discovered that Forrest had taken advantage of the truce to place his men in positions, 
which enabled them to swarm into the forts. 

The scene that ensued was of the most cruel and shameful character, for an indiscrim- 




inate slaughter was begun. Over four hundred Federals were killed, for Forrest's men 
gave no quarter. Those who escaped the frightful butchery did so by plunging into the 
ravines on the first alarm. Fven the helpless wounded in the hospital were barbarously 
put to death. Men were placed in convenient groups and shot to death, others were nailed 
to the floors of houses, and perished in the flames. Major Bradford was ordered to Jack- 
son, Tennessee, as a prisoner, but was shot to death on the road because he was of South- 
ern birth. This awful massacre stamped Forrest as a man unworthy to wear the uniform 
of a general. 

General Banks began his Red River expedition in March, having received ten thou- 
sand veterans from Sherman, under General A. J. Smith, the Mississippi fleet, under Admiral 
Porter, cooperating. After several skirmishes Banks' force of twenty-five thousand men 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



501 



arrived at Natchitoches on April 4, and started for Shreveport. Then orders came for 
Sherman's troops to return, so the expedition was abandoned. An important battle took 
place, however, at Sabine Cross Roads on April 7. Twelve thousand Confederate cavalry 
and eight thousand infantry made a concerted charge upon the leading Federal divisions, 
under Lee, Ransom and Landman, driving them into the woods, with the loss of several 
field pieces. Cameron's division, of the Thirteenth Corps, hurried forward and a new line 
was established. Before it was completed the Confederates made another headlong 
charge, fairly sweeping the Federals off their feet. Cameron's men broke, and a regular 
stampede followed. Colonel Vance, of the Ninety-sixth Ohio, and Colonel Webb, of the 
Seventy-seventh Ohio, were killed, while among the wounded were Generals Franklin and 
Ransom, and Colonel Robinson, of the cavalry. The Confederates captured fifteen hun- 




dred prisoners, twelve pieces of artillery and nearly two hundred wagons. The Federals 
halted at Pleasant Grove, three miles away, when General Emory's divisions came up and 
advanced. The Confederates not realizing that they were now facing fresh troops, tried 
another charge, but Emory's men held their fire until the advancing line was within sixty 
yards' range, then poured in so deadly a series of volleys that Green's troops were shat- 
tered, and compelled to retire. Banks now fell back fifteen miles to Pleasant Hill, where 
on April 8 he met General A. J. Smith with part of the Sixteenth Corps. The Confeder- 
ates were in close pursuit, and advanced on Benedict's brigade, which held Emory's left, 
driving it back. General Benedict was first wounded in the arm and then killed by a bullet 
passing through his skull. Colonel Sweitzer's Texan cavalry regiment led the Confeder- 
ate charge ; but meeting the reserve line of General Smith, it was cut to pieces. It was 



502 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



now Smith's opportunity. The Sixteenth Corps had been trained to save ammunition, and 
did not open fire until the Confederates were massed. Eighteen guns, double-loaded 
with grape and canister, and seven thousand muskets sent in a simultaneous volley at peril- 
ously short range, the Confederate's centre being swept away, nearly one thousand men 
being killed inside of twenty minutes. " Charge," sounded General Smith's bugle, and as 
the Si.Kteenth Corps rushed forward Emory's Nineteenth joined in the headlong movement, 
and the field was won, the Confederates disappearing in the woods. Taylor's and Nim's 
batteries being recaptured, and the Federals took five hundred prisoners, three Hags, and 
two thousand muskets. 

Considerable fighting marked the succeeding operations, and Admiral Porter fell into 
difficulty owing to the dangerous navigation. At one time he narrowly escaped being 
killed by a solid shot. On April 24 the troops were back in Alexandria, and Gen- 




eral Hunter arrived with orders from General Grant to close the campaign. Porter and 
his light-draft vessels were above Ale.xandria, and the water had fallen so low it seemed 
impossible to save the vessels. Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, who was Bank's chief engineer, 
then offered to build dams on the river. With three thousand men and three hundred 
wagons he built a three hundred-foot dam, which was lengthened by sinking barges loaded 
with brick. In eight days the water was high enough to permit the gunboats and iron- 
clads to pass down the river. For this feat Bailey was made a Brigadier-General, and re- 
ceived a gold medal from Congress. 

These Red River operations included a battle between General Steele's Federal force 
and General Kirby Smith's command at Jenkin's F'erry, near the Sabine River, on April 27. 
The engagement was won by Steele after a desperate struggle, Kirby Smith having three 
generals killed and over two thousand men, killed, wounded, and prisoners, the Federal 
loss being seven hundred and thirty. Steele then abandoned the effort to join Banks and 
returned to Little Rock. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




The Mississirri Rivek Fleet of Ikonclad Gunboats. 



=-^■'-4 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Tub Mississiici River Flebt op Ironclad Gunboats. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



505 




-■ Brigade Horse Artillerv. 



CHAPTER LYL 



OPKNING OK GRANTS OVEKLANlJ CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA. 

The Federal Congress revived the rank of Lieutenant-General on March i, 1864, and 
conferred it upon Ulysses S. Grant. This promotion placed him in command of all the 
United States armies in the field. General Sherman was given the command of all the 
Federal armies in the West. Intense activity prevailed in the Spring of 1864 on both 
sides of the hostile line. Sherman and Johnston concentrated their forces ; Grant 
reinforced the Army of the Potomac, and Lee recalled Longstreet, and received 
reinforcements from Georgia and the Carolinas. Besides emptying the hospitals, Grant 
ordered to the front some of the heavy artillery regiments that had been specially raised 
for the defences of Washington on the Heights of Alexandria, Virginia. 

A curious story, but an entirely true one, is told, which shows the self-reliant character 
of Grant. Being one day in Washington during the latter part of April. 1864, the 
Lieutenant-General called on Secretarj- of War Stanton, purely as a matter of courtesy. 

"Well, General, are you ready for a move?" asked Stanton, rubbing his spectacles. 

" Yes, I think so. The roads will soon be dr)' enough for the wagons and artiller)-. 
Then the army will march," said General Grant. 

" Of course, you have taken proper care that the defences of Washington are all 
right?" continued the .Secretar)-. 

"Oh, yes. There will be enough troops in the Alexandria forts to meet any emer- 
gency," replied Grant, quietly. 

" That's right. You know we must have the forts completely garrisoned. That was 
wh\- we organized those regiments of heavy artiller}', so that they could not be taken from 



So6 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 





IVT.-MAJOR-GENE 



ENERAl, L. BENEDICT. 



the fortifications. It was my own idea. Our e.xperience has been that that confounded 
rebel general, Lee, has orenerally contrived to threaten the national capital no matter how 
the Armv of the Potomac moved against him." 

"Well," replied drant, very dr}ly, "when I once begin fiohting Lee, he will have 
something else to think of. He will have no timt; to threaten Washington, so I have 
taken some of your heavy artillery to strengthen Meade." 

" Have you ?" exclaimed Stanton, thoroughly startled. " How man)- have you taken ?" 

"About thirty thousand.up to the present time." 

" Thirty thousand ! Oh, see here. General Cirant, this won't do. And I will not have 
it. W'e must feel perfectly safe while you are fighting in those X'irginia woods beyond the 
Rapidan. I am Secretary of War, you know, and I shall insist on those heavy artillery 
regiments being sent back." 

" I am very sorry," responded Grant, " but the men are needed, and they will stay 
where they are. As for the question of authority, I supposed when Congress made me a 
Lieiitenant-General, to conunantl all the United States armies, the rank carried some 
power. In fact, I rather think I outrank the Secretary of War when it comes to disposing 
of the troops." 

"I don't want to quarrel with you, General," saiil Stanton ; "but this question must 
be settled at once. Let us go and see the President." 

The Secretary and the General walked over to the White House- together, very 
amicably, and, of course, were at once admitted to the presence of Mr. Lincoln. The 
President was surprised by the visit, for he read in the faces of these two distinguished 
men evidence of trouble. 

"What has happened?" asked Mr. Lincoln, very gravely, and straight to the point. 

"Well, Mr. President," replied Stanton, "the fact is, the Lieutenant-General has, 
without my sanction, taken away nearly all the garrisons from the Alexandria forts, and 1 
have protested. You know we must |)rotect Washington." 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



SO? 



" Have you, indeed, taken the Alexandria garrisons?" inquired the President, turning 
to the heavy-bearded Lieutenant-General. 

" Yes, Mr. President," rephed Grant. "About half of them." 

"And do you realize that this city may be in danger if not protected?" continued Mr 
Lincoln in a surprised tone. 

" I have already told the Secretary of War that when the Army of the Potomac 
begins hostilities the Confederates will not have any time to threaten Washington." 

Mr. Lincoln remained silent for a minute or two, and then said: 

" Well, Mr. Secretary of War, when the people of the United States selected Mr. 
Grant, as Mrs. Grant persists in calling the General, to take the chief command of all the 
United States armies, they and their Congress evidently intended that he should have 




some power. You and I have been trying for three years to run this war, and we dun t 
seem to have made a very good job of it. Now, suppose we let the Lieutenant-General 
try his hand. He has to shoulder all the responsibility if he fails." 

That settled it. The heavy artillery battalions remained in the Army of the Potomac, 
and right gallant service they did, too. In fact, when Grant subsequently ordered fifteen 
thousand more men to be sent him, Stanton made no objection. 

General Burnside was marching toward the Rappahannock River from Centreville 
when Meade began assembling his three consolidated army corps, now under command of 
Major-Generals Winfield .Scott Hancock, Gouverneur K. Warren, and John Sedgwick. 
General Sheridan was brought from the West to command the cavalry corps. Han- 
cock had four divisions, under Generals F"rancis C. Barlow, John Gibbon, David B. Birney, 
and Gershom Mott. Warren had also four divisions, under Generals Charles Griffin, John 
C. Robinson, Samuel W. Crawford, and James S. Wadsworth. Sedgwick's three divisions 
were under Generals H. G. Wright, George W. Getty, and James B. Ricketts. Burnside's 



5o8 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



four divisions, under Generals T. G. Stevenson, Robert B. Potter, Orlando B. Willcox, and 
Edward Ferrero, whose troops were colored. Sheridan had three divisions, under Generals 
A. T. A. Torbert, D. McM. Grcijg, and J. H. Wilson. The four brigades of reserve artil- 
lery were under General Henry J. Hunt. When the final orders were given to cross the 
Rapidan there were one hundred and sixteen thousand men under arms, with six 
thousand wagons, carrying twenty days' su[)plies of food and ammunition. No arm\- was 
ever better e;quipped than this magnificent body of troops. 

The several Federal columns crossed the Rapidan River on May 4, 1864. The day 
was warm and bright, and the atmosphere was burdened with the subtle perfumes of 
forest and field. Every tree and shrub was clothed in a tender garment of green ; the 
very earth seemed redolent of spring. Refreshed by their long winter's rest, and entirely 
refitted in clothing antl niilitar\' e(]uipment, the troops were in splendid spirits. 

The scenes at Germanna and Ely's Fords, where pontoon bridges had been con- 
structetl, were animated and exciting on that delightful May morning. The corps, 
division, ami brigade banners floated lazily in the warm breeze as the several commands 
moved forward. With these fiuttering ensigns were the regimental standards, their faded 
colors gaining new brilliance as the silken folds waved in tattered abandon amid the glitter 
of musket barrels and bayonets. Steadih' marching in close ranks, the troops presented a 
solidity that betokened power and strength. With the long lines of infantry went heavy 
masses of artillery and cavalry, the sabres of these mounted men jingling musically as the 
well-fed horses trotted over the roads. While the troopers went swiftly to the front, and 
crossed the river in advance of the army, every road was occupied by the batteries of 
artillery, ponderous and grim. Each brigade had its quota of guns, and the corps of 
reserve numbered full)' three hundred pieces, steel and brass, rifled and smooth-bore. 

General Warren's corps was nominally the right wing of Meade's army, Sedgwick's the 
centre, and Hancock's the left. The Fifth and Sixth Corps crossed at Germanna Ford, 
the Second at Ely's, and so well timed was the entire movement that all the troops and 
two thousand wagons were over the stream inside of twenty-four hours. W^arren, being in 
the advance, jjushctl on to Wilderness Tavern, where his corps went into bivouac during 
the night of May 4. Hancock crossed at six o'clock on Thursday morning, and haltid at 
Chancellorsville. Sedgwick followed Warren, and massed his men on the bank of the 
river. Burnside had by that time reached Culpepper Court House, where he halted and 
awaited orders. There was no opposition to the Federal army while crossing the river, as 
the Confederate pickets quickly retired when the engineers b^gan building their bridges. 

Grant had now set all of his armies in motion. Sherman was moving from Chatta- 
nooga against Atlanta and Joe Johnston's army. Banks was to attack Mobile. Butler, 
with thirty-three thousand men in two corps, under Gillmore and W. F. Smith, was threat- 
ening Richmond by way of the James River. Sigel had eighteen thousand men, mosth- 
cavalry, with which to advance up the Shenandoah \'alley. The Confederacj' was as.sailed 
on all points. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



509 




Council of War at Mass 



CHAPTER LVII. 



THE FOREST BATTLE IX THE WILDERNESS. 

The ground on which the Arm\- of the Potomac now stood is well named The Wilder- 
ness, for it is covered by a mass of oak and pine; the virgin parts of the forest beincr 
choked with dense undergrowth and a network of vines, while young pines on the aban- 
doned cultivated land formed perfect screens to the movements of troops. The Wilderness 
was a terra incognita to the Federals, but the Confederates had a perfect knowledo-e of 
the labyrinth of roads and wagon paths intersecting the entire region. General Grant 
did not expect to fight so near the Rapidan, for he supposed that Lee would retire to some 
selected position before giving battle. The Federal commander, however, soon discovered 
that Lee was a great strategist and a desperate fighter, ready and quick in his movements. 

Grant's aim was to first cut Lee off from Richmond. He, therefore, sent Sheridan 
with two cavalry divisions towards Hamilton's Crossing, near Fredericksburg, while Wil- 
son, with the other division, moved towards Craig's Meeting House, on the Catharpin 
Road. Sheridan and Wilson were to seize and hold the several roads which mio-ht be 
available for the movement of the Confederates. Hancock was sent to Shady Grove 
Church, to connect with Warren at Parker's Store, the latter to draw his right towards 
Old Wilderness Tavern, where Sedgwick was to form his line. At sunrise of May 5 all 
the columns were in motion. As yet, there was no sign of opposition, but Lee had already 
divined Grant's plan, and decided to fall heavily on his flank. Ewell's Corps had been sent 
over the Orange Turnpike, and Hill's by the Orange Plank Road, and they were near Old 
Wilderness Tavern when Warren approached. Griffin's division touched Ewell, and 
Crawford struck Hill. A halt was made, the Federal movement being temporarily 
checked. Grant, however, imagined that Lee was retreating, and that Warren had struck 
the rear guard. He accordingly decided to crush it and seize Mine Run. At noon War- 



Sio 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



ren advanced with Griffin's and Wadsworth's divisions ami drove Ewell back. Jolinson's 
division getting into temporary confusion, Rodes rushed forward and turned the tide, 
Griffin being overwhehned and compelled to retire, after losing two pieces of artillery and 
several hundred prisoners. Wadsworth, in attempting to join Griffin, was confused b)- the 
forest and e.xposed his left flank, which, l;eing attacked and crushed, the entire division fell 
back in disorder. McCandless' brigade, of Crawford's division, became isolated and was 
surrounded. The brigade fought with rare courage, and cut its wa)- out to the main body, 
losing nearly all of two regiments. Warren having lost three thousand men in this brief 
but deadly encounter, formed a new line across the turnpike. The forest, amidst which the 
armies were now operating, was so dense that the Federal brigades maintained their for- 




Hkadquarters Third Army Corts, Army of the PoTiTMAr. 

mation with ilitficulty, while the vines and almost impenetrable uiulergrowth frecjuenlh- pre- 
vented any movement except in single file. 

Sedgwick assumed his assigned position in good time, but Hancock, who had gone 
by the Brock Road toward the point where it intersected the Plank Road, over which 
Hill was advancing, was delayed, so Sedgwick advanced Getty's division and occupied 
the Second Corps position. Scarcely had Getty formed line when Hill began pressing 
him, but the Federals stood fast. Hancock arrived at thrte o'clock, his men passing over 
the narrow wagon paths with remarkable rapidity, taking position along the Brock Road, 
the orders being to move forward and engage. Hancock sent Birney's and Mott's 
divisions on either side of Getty, but they failed to gain ground, as the Confederates 
were in strong force. Neither side could see the other, owing to the density of the forest, 
and the fighting was necessarily at close range. The brigades of Owen and Carroll, of 
Gibbon's division, then strengthened Hancock's line, but as they were facing Hill's 
entire»corps, consisting of Anderson's, Willcox's, and Heth's divisions, the Federal charges 
were repelled. In one of their sallies the Confederates captured two guns of Rickett's 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



511 




^arii(oiy^')]nii)5/on 



S'^ 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



513 



battery, killing nearly all the men and horses. Carroll's brigade recaptured the pieces, 
and Dow's Maine battery occupied the gap in the line. Mott's division then gave way, 
and General Alexander Hays was shot dead while reforming his brigade. Meade now 
sent Wadsworth with his division, and Baxter's brigade, from Robinson's division, to 
relieve Hancock, by moving j^outhward through the woods, and strike Hill's flank and 
rear. But, owing to the density of the forest and his ignorance of the ground, Wadsworth 
did not reach his objective point until after dark, so halted and waited. Thus ended the 
first day of the battle, and Grant found himself in sudden peril. Hancock had failed to 
dislodge Hill, but held his own line. He was separated from Sedgwick and Warren by a 
deep ravine, which also ran between Ewell and Hill. Both of the opposing commanders 
had been unable to carry out their purpose, but the lines were well defined and so close 




]/i'ewonthe(]0(KS ^KityPom \ 



together that the men of both armies drew water from the same brook, but no shot was 
fired during that night. 

General Burnside received orders to come up early on the morning of the 5th, and, 
though Culpepper Court House is over thirty miles from the Rapidan, his Ninth Corps was 
on the battlefield at daylight of the 6th, and took position between Hancock and Warren. 
Grant's line was now five miles long, being formed as follows : Sedgwick, with Wright's 
and Rickett's divisions, stood on the right ; Warren came next, with Griffin's, Robinson's, 
and Crawford's divisions ; Burnside stood on the left centre, with Stevenson's, Potter's, 
and Willcox's divisions, Ferrero's colored division having been left in the rear to guard 
the trains ; Hancock had the extreme left with six divisions, under Barlow, Gibbon, Bir- 
ney, Mott, Wadsworth, and Getty. Lee's right was held by Hill, his left by Ewell, and 
Longstreet's corps was hurrying up from Gordonsville to join Hill and assume the centre. 

It was evident that the next day's engagement was to be a battle with bullets alone 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




for not more than twenty pieces of artillery could be used by either arm\-. In fact, the 
fighting- all the \va\- to the James gave little opportunity for the emplojinent of field guns, 
and General Grant finally sent ijack over one hundred pieces, the\- not returning until the 
siege of Petersburg began. 

Grant's plan for the following day was that Hancock should attack \\ ill on his tlank and 
centre, Burnside engaging as soon as the Second Corps got fairly to work. Sedgwick 
and Warren were to make sufficient demonstration to prevent Early reinforcing Hill. If 
Hurnside succeeded in breaking through Hill's line he was to swing round and envelop 
Early. General Sheridan was sent to connect with Hancock's left, and attack Stuart's 
cavalry, who were trying to reach the Rapidan and the F'ederal trains. Sheridan found 
his quarry at the intersection of the Furnace and the Brock Roads; also at Todd's Tavern, 
he defeating Stuart in three engagements. Hancock was misled by the cavalry carbine 
volleys, and supposed that a strong force of infantr)' was approaching, so detached a 
brigade to meet it. General Let' decided to fall upon Grant's left with two-thirds of his 
army and crush it, which would enable him to take the whole Federal line in tlank. But 
Longstreet could not get up in time for an assault at daybreak, so Lee made a diversion 
on Sedgwick to gain time and conceal his real movements. Early, accordingly, opened a 
heavy musketry fire a few minutes before five o'clock, but Sedgwick's men ciung to their 
position, and the feint failed. 

Hancock sent forward Birney'sand Getty's divisions, with Owen's and Carroll's brigades 
from Gibbon's command, along the Plank Road, while Wadsworth advanced on the right 
of the road to strike Hill's flank. The direct assault was a furious one, but was met by 
the Confederates with" tolerable steadiness until Wadsvvorth's movement was developed, 
when Hill lost ground and was driven back over a mile, some of his men not stopping 
until they reached the trains and reserve artillery. The divisions of Heth and Willco.x, of 
Hill's corps, were badly cut up, antl the Federals captured over two thousand prisoners 
and five stands of colors. 1 hul General Hancock been able to discern the lull success of 
this movement he might have cut Lee's army in two, but the interminable forest concealed 
Hill's discomfiture. Birney, Getty, and Wadsworth paused, and General Hancock 
began getting his troops into better order. Burnside had sent him Stevenson's division, 
and he replaced Getty's division with Frank's and Webb's brigades, from Gibbon's and 
Barlow's divisions. It was not until nine o'clock that Hancock was ready and moved for- 



I HE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



515 




5i6 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



ward but to his surprise he found the Confederate line stronger than before, as Hill had 
brmurht up his reserve divisions, and Longstreet was with him. The latter had been 
marchin^^ towards Hancock's left flank, when Hill's sudden peril compelled Lee to recall hnn. 
The battle now became a very deadly one. At times, single regiments fought each 
other among the trees and undergrowth as they became separated from the main line. 
For two hours this struggle in the forest continued, the Federals losing ground, General 
James S. Wadsworth being killed b\- a bull<-t through his brain. This incident so demor- 
alized Wadsworth's division that they broke and ran. This shook Hancock's whole line, 
and the Confederates appeared to be carrying everything before them, when there was a 
sudden pause, and Hancock quickly reformed. For the second time these Southern 
troops were to pay the penalty for clinging to forest ground, for General Longstreet was 




shot and severely wounded by his own men, who niisit)uk the group of horsemen for Fed- 
erals. Longstreet had planned a decisive movement, which might have proved disastrous 
to Hancock, but when the mind that conceived it was no longer able to direct the details 
it could not be made. General Longstreet being carried from the field. General Lee 
assumed personal command of that part of his line. 

Warren, Burnside, and Sedgwick had practically done nothing except hold the forces 
in front of them actively engaged, and the musketry died away throughout the Wilderness, 
until four o'clock in the afternoon, when Lee, having got all of Longstreet's and Hill's 
divisions together, hurled them on Hancock. The Confederates advanced, in four heavy 
columns, in utter silence, until they came within three hundred yards of the Federal line. 
Then they delivered a tremendous series of musketry volleys, but the Federals had thrown 
up breastworks, consequently the Confederate musketry made but little impression, while the 
Federal volleys were very effective. Still, the combat was a most destructive one, and it was 
rendered all the more demoniac by the dead leaves and branches catching fire. The wind 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



517 



drove the flames towards the Federal breastworks, which also became ignited. Amidst 
the hot flame and suff'ocating smoke Hancock's men clung to their rude defences until 
nearly exhausted. Then the Confederates charged and broke Hancock's line in several 
places. A panic ensued, and several brigades had already begun retreating toward Chan- 
cellorsville, when General Carroll's brigade rushed into the gap and drove Lee's men back. 
That ended the fighting on that part of the field. 

Lee's strategy was shown later in the day, when he sent Early through the forest so 
secretly and securely that the one-legged general was able to completely surprise Sedg- 
wic'k b)' suddenlj- striking him on his extreme right and part of his front. Earl)' seized 




over four thousand prisoners, of Rickett's division, among them Brigadier-Generals Shaler 
and Seymour. The movement was made at Lee's favorite hour, just before sunset, but 
Sedgwick quickly moved up his supports and repelled the attack in fine style. Then 
darkness enveloped the blood-stained forest, and the Battle of the Wilderness was over. 
The Federal loss in this battle was five thousand men killed, ten thousand wounded, and 
five thousand taken prisoners. The Confederates lost over four thousand killed, eight 
thousand wounded, and three thousand taken prisoners. Generals Hays, Webb, and 
Wadsworth were killed on the Federal side, while Generals Bartlett, Carroll, Getty, 
Gregg, Hancock and Owen were wounded. Confederate Generals Jenkins, Jones, and 
Stafford were killed, and Generals Hunter, Pegram, Pickett, and Longstreet wounded. 



5iS 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 



CHAPTER LVIII. 



THE TWO DAYS BATTI.K AT SrOTTSVLVANI A fOUKT HOUSE. 



While the battle of May 6 was in progress General Grant ordered all of the pontoon 
bridges, except the one at Germanna Ford, to be taken up. This was a stern announce- 
ment to his army that there would be no retreating, only wounded men being permitted 
to pass over the Rapidan. It was a new experience for the Army of the Potomac, but the 
soldiers were pleased with this eviilence of their general's determination to light it out, as 
he subsequently expressed it, " on that line, evc-n if it took all summer." 

On the morning of Saturday, May 7, both armies stood to arms in the Wilderness, 
but there was no lighting, beyond an occasional outburst on the skirmish lines. During 
the afternoon it was evident that Lee was falling back, and as Grant believed that the Con- 
federate comm:\nder was endeavoring to reach his intrenchments at Mine Run, he resolved 
to make a Hank movement on Lee's right, antl, if possible, get between him and Richmond. 
The several corps were, therefore, put in motion as soon as darkness set in, and the entire 
army was marching towards Spottsjlvania Court House, about thirteen miles southeast of 
the Wilderness. The Fifth Corps led the advance, over the Brock Road, followed by the 
Second. The Sixth and Ninth Corps marched by way of Chancellorsville. The intre- 
pidity of Grant was shown by this movement, for it uncovered Germanna F"ord and his line 
of communication, but he knew- that Lee had something else to think about. 

General Lee soon discovered the meaning of the Federal movement, and he directed 
Genera! Anderson, who now commanded Longstreet's corps, to march for Spottsylvania 
Court House. Anderson had the shortest route,, so he reached Spottsylvania first. It is 
a curious incident that Warren and Anderson were marching on parallel roads, unknown 
to each other, the natural consequence of manceuvering in a forest. General Sheridan 
had gone to Todd's Tavern to drive in Stuart's cavalry, which he succeeded in doing, but 
General Meade changed Mirritt's orders, and the ConfetKrates gained the bridge that 
had been hi-Id by the Federal cavalry. Thus, for the second time, an error in judgment 

gave Lee the advantage. 

About a mile south of the Wilderness Tavern four 
creeks run together. These creeks are known as the 
Mat, Ta, Po, and Ny, as they form the Mattaponx' River. 
A long ridge divides the Po and the Ny, Spottsjl- 
vania Court House occupying the crest of the ridge. 
Anderson's corps marched over the Catharpin Road, 
crossing the Po at Wooden Bridge. Warren and 
Hancock, being on the Brock Road, encountered none 
of the streams, but Sedgwick had to cross the Ny at 
Catharpin Furnace, while Burnside took the britlge at 
Gate's House, being comi)elled to fight for it, as the 
Confederates were extending their line in that direc- 
tion. The movement of the I'ederal arm)' was simply 
the elongation of its line, the riglu and centre ])assing 
behind the left, and the left following in turn until it 
reached the \\v\\ position assigned it. Though the 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



519 



ground along the course of the Po and the Ny is somewhat difficuk for campaign 
purposes, it was much more open than the Wilderness, yet better adapted for defensive 
than offensive operations. 

Warren's orders were to march direct to Spottsylvania Court House, but he was 
delayed at Todd's Tavern, the road being blocked by Sheridan's cavalry, and he lost five 
hours. The road being also obstructed further on by felled trees, his progress was slow 
and difificult, and it was eight o'clock before Robinson's division reached Alsop's Farm, 
two miles from Spottsylvania. General Anderson had intended bivouacking, but the 
smoke from the fires in the forest compelled his men to keep moving all night, and they 
arrived at Alsop's Farm two hours before Warren, taking position on a wooded crest 




7. ky L. Prang b' Co. 



beside the Ny. on the other side of a wide clearing. Ignorant that he was facing Ander- 
son's entire command. General Robinson led his division across the fields in two columns, 
which were saluted by a terrific artillery and musketry fire, which threw the command 
into temporary confusion. While reforming his line, Robinson was wounded in the knee, 
subsequent amputation removing him from active service. The loss of their General 
completed the discomfiture of the Second Division, but Warren assumed personal com- 
mand, and was restoring order when Griffin's division arrived. The Confederates again 
opened fire, and Griffin's line was broken, as Crawford and Cutler, the latter now com- 
manding Wadsworth's division, advanced, Crawford going to Grififin's left. Cutler to his 
right. Then the entire corps advanced in gallant style, and drove Anderson from the 
crest, the Confederates retiring to and taking possession of the Court House. This battle 
of Alsop's Farm, though brief, .vas a bloody one, for Warren had thirteen hundred men 
killed and wounded in less than two hours, the First Michigan Regiment losing one hundred 



5_,o THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



and sfvcntv-scvon iiirii out of the two hundred who had survivt-d the curnage in the 
Wilderness. Cirant's llank movement hail failed. 

il was not until the forenoon of lMi>nda\, Ma)' o, thai both aniiics faced eaih other in 
full fowe. Lee hat.1 estalilished a si'ini-circular line which inclosed the town. 1 lis ri<;ht was 
occupied by .Anderson, his centre by luvell, and his left b\- Marly. Meade's ri^lu extended 
bevonil the I^rock Road. Warren ct)vt-rino; all the convergin- roads In that direction. Sed;^- 
wick occupied the centre, anil Burnside the left, Hancock beiui; still at Totld's Tavern, ex- 
pecting to nu'i't l^arly. 'Idn- latter, however, was recalleil after the fi^ht at Alsop's Farm, 
which beiui;- discovered 1)\ ("irant, he ordered Hancock to le.ue Motl's division .it the Tav- 
ern, and with the remainder of his corjis take position on W.uren's li^lit. .\l the same time 
Sheridan started on a raid in the Confederate rear bir the |)urpose of desiroyiiii; Lee's 
railroad communication with Richmond. The Inderal line now en\(lo|)<d llu; Confeilerate 
one, anil the day beoan with slight skirmishim^. It w.is tin n that ("lemral John Sedgwick 
was killed. He was st.uuling o\\ the breastworks, on the right ot his corps line, superin- 
tending the pi. icing of some batteries, pa\ ing no attention to the bullets ot the Confeder- 
ate sharpshooters. When remonstrated with b\- mendiers ol his stafi, Sedgwick laughed 
contemptuously. At that instant he fell dead, a bullet piercing his skull uniler tlie lelt eye. 
General Horatio d. Wright succeeded him in command of the .Sixth Corps, and continued 
in that position until the close of the war. 

General Sedgwick was a great soldier. He was very dear to the old .Sixth Corps, as 
is evidenced by the statue erected to his memory at West I'oint b_\' the rank and tde of 
that organization before its disbandment. Sedgwick was fond of leaping from his saddle, 
during an engagement, for the purpose of advancing to the extreme front line and examin- 
ing into affairs. It was this haliit that led to his death. He always wore a regidation 
cavalry sabre, and it corres[)onded well with his massive ligure. .Sedgwick w.is a good deal 
like Thoma--. 1 le might be styled the " Old Reliable" of the .\rmy of the Potomac, as 
was Thomas of the Western Army. He went into b.utle without haste or excitement, but 
when once fairly engaged he kept his lin.'s intact. His death was a great loss to the 
I'ederal side, just as Jackson's crippled the efforts of Lee. 

Monday wore away, but on Tuesday a tremendous battle occurred. Lee's right now 
rested on the Ny, his left y^^w Cdady Run, while his centre, being thrown forward, occupied 
a commanding position. Grant's line of battle was si.x miles long, his right extending 
across the I'o, Hancock's position being nearh parallel with the .Shad\ tirove Church 
Road. Warren held the right centre, on the east bank of the I'o ; Wright the left centre, 
facing the Court House; Burnside occupied the extreme lett. Lee's troops were shel- 
tered by a den.se forest, and they had erected formidalde barricades. 

Grant decided to assault Laurel Hill, the apex of Lee's cin-ved line, Hancock being 
ordered to send Birney's and Gibbon's divisions to strengthen the assaulting column. An- 
derson then fell upon Barlow, capturing a field gun, so Hancock was compelletl \.o retire, 
leaving his wounded to perish in the woods, that had again caught fire. 

Two attacks had been made on Laurel Hill, first by Carroll's and Webb's brigades, 
then by the divisions under Cutler and Crawford. Both failed. When Hancock joined 
Warren and Wright it was arranged that the Second, "Fifth, and Sixth Corps were to make 
a combined assault. The advance of the Federal line was an imposing one, for the eftort 
was similar to Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. exce[)t that th(> several columns had to climb 
a steep and densely wooded hill. Precisely at t'lve oclock in the afternoon over thirty 
thousand infantry pushed forward, being nut bv a most destructive fire, the men being 
unable to effect a lodgment in the Confederate intrenchments, though one or two points were 
temporarily pierced. The loss was very severe, but at six o'clock the assault was renewed 
with the same dire results, for the Confederates drove back the I'lderals with tremendous 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



521 



slaughter. In ninety minutes six thousand men were killed or wounded, Generals James 
Clay Rice and Thomas G. Stevenson being among the Federal dead. While Warren 
was charging his front, Wright saw a chance, and, organizing a storming party consisting 
ot twelve picked regiments, gave Colonel Emory Upton, of the One Hundred and Twenty- 
first New York, the command. Mott was to support Upton, but he utterly failed, and 
General Grant countermanded the movement, though Upton had already captured several 
guns and nearly one thou.sand prisoners. For his gallantry young Upton was made a 
Brigadier-General while the action was in progress. General Grant conferring the promo- 
tion while bending over the wounded Colonel. This ended the first day's battle at Spott- 
sylvania. It might have been the last had General Burnsideonly known that he had really 
turned Lee's right flank. The Ninth Corps had met with little opposition in its advance. 




Maj, Gen, 

M. PALnLK- 



Maj G-en, 



r Brk^.Gen. E.YV.Whittakef^ 



owing to the fact that Lee had temporarily weakened that part of his line, but the config- 
uration of the ground and the density of the woods sheltering the Confederates rendered it 
impossible for Burnside to ascertain the exact strength of his opponents without destroy- 
ing the continuity of the Federal line. At nightfall General Grant ordered Burnside to 
join Wright, and thus all the advantage was lost. In his memoirs Grant assumes all the 
blame for this oversight. 

During this first day at Spottsylvania the Federals had lost fully ten thousand men, 
while the Confederate loss was ver)- near nine thousand. The unburied bodies of three thou- 
sand men lay scattered along the slopes of the ridges or under the trees. Out of the two hun- 
dred thousand Federals and Confederates who had rushed into battle on May 5, forty-three 
thousand were either dead, wounded, or prisoners — a dreadful record forthreedaysof fighting. 

The morning of Wednesday, May 11, was a bright and sunny one. Having fought 
so desperately the day before, neither army was in spirit or condition for a speedy resump- 



522 >''///i MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



tion of hostilities. The heavy skirmish lines were, however, in frequent collision, each 
endeavoring to conceal the movements of large bodies of troojjs behind them. 

Grant had carefully surveyed Lee's lines and found that his centre formed a salient 
point near the Landrum House. Believing it to be vulnerable, he decided to make an 
attack, selectin^f the Second Corps to strike the blow. Hancock, therefore, withdrew 
from the front of A. P. Hill and, marching to the left of Meade's army line, took position 
between Wright and Hurnside. As the assault was to have the support of the entire 
Federal forces, Wright e.vtended his left, while Burnside and Warren prepared to move 
forward and engage the enemy on Hancock's right and left, in order to prevent a concen- 
tration a'l^ainst the Second Corps. Each corps expected to do some hard fighting, but the 
brunt was to fall on Hancock's. Rain began falling heavily during the afternoon, and con- 
tinued through the night. Under cover of the intense darkness, Hancock withdrew his 
men from their intrenchments, and marching entirely by compass, moved past Warren anil 
Wright, finally taking position only twelve hundred yards from the point to be attacked. 
Barlow's and Birney's divisions were in advance, having formed in two massed lines. 
Mott's division was supporting Birney's, while Gibbon's was in reserve, to move right or 
left, as necessity might demand. Thus the corps stood, waiting for dawn. At half-past 
four on the morning of Thursday, May 12, Hancock's men began moving, a heavy fog con- 
cealing their advance. Silently and steadily the lines stepped forward. Barlow's men find- 
ing themselves on comparatively open ground, while Birney's had to struggle through a 
thick wood. For seven hundred yards the two divisions adxanced without firing a shot, 
but as they passed through the Confederate skirmish line a sudden cheer was given and the 
troops rushed forward like a mighty wave. 

The charge was made so suddenly that the Federals were able to toss aside the rude 
abatis in front of the Confederate breastworks, and dash over the wall of logs and earth 
before Ewell's men could defend them. Inside these intrenchments a desperate hand-to- 
hand struggle ensued, but the Federals were victorious, capturing Generals Edward John- 
son and George H. Stewart, with four thousand men. They also seized thirt}- cannon 
and as many battle flags. Then Ewell's line broke and retreated in confusion. Johnson's 
division being destroyed, Hancock advanced on Early's, and had the Second Corps been 
properly supported in this movement there is little doubt that Hancock would ultimate!)" 
have cut Lee's army in two. 

It was now half-past si.x o'clock, and as Wright took position on Hancock's right, the 
latter concentrated his force on the left of the Salient. General Lee then decided to crush 
Hancock and Wright, and massed nearly half of his army for that purpose. Again and 
again did the Confederates charge, each one weakening the Federal grasp on the position, 
when Cutler's and Griffin's divisions, of the Fifth Corps, were detached and hurried to the 
scene, though the entire line of both armies were figluing desperately. This reinforce- 
ment equalized matters, and though the conflict continued for a period of twenty consecutive 
hours, the Federals held their ground. No less than five charges were made by Lee, each 
being repulsed with terrible loss. The battle did not end until three o'clock on the 
morning of May 13, both sides resting on their arms during the day, Lee finally retreat- 
ing to his second line of intrenchments. The Battle of Spottsylvania may be considered 
a Federal victory, though a very costly one, for Meade lost twelve thousand men, the Con- 
federate loss being even greater. Masses of dead bodies were heaped up all along the 
disputed line, and the wounded were everywhere. The Army of the Potomac had now 
an effective strength of only eighty-seven thousand, nearly one-fourth of those who crossed 
the Rapidan River having been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner in the brief space of 
eight days. Lee had, however, lost as many more — truly an appalling record for a single 
week. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



523 



CHAPTER LIX 



SHERIDAN S RICH-MUXD KAIL) AND GRANTS PASSAGE OF THE NORTH ANNA RIVER. 

Rain had now fallen for nearly twenty-four hours. The earth was literally soaked, 
and the road a deep sea of mud. Consequently maneuvering of large bodies of men was 
very difficult, yet a severe engagement occurred on the 13th between Burnside and Hill. 
It had no result, however. For five days the relative position of the two armies contin- 
ued unchanged, but Grant had kept throwing out his left until his army stood five miles 




northwest of Spottsylvania Court House, and on May 23 his left rested on Massaponax 
Church. On the 19th six thousand fresh troops from the defences around Washington 
and Alexandria arrived, the reinforcement of these heavy artillery regiments being 
received with cheers by the veterans of the Wilderness and .Spottsylvania. 

General Sheridan had started on a raid on May 9 with ten thousand sabres, and 
reachincj- the North Anna River, captured Beaver Dam Station, destroyed ten miles of 
railroad track, and three freight trains containing a million and a half of Confederate 
rations. Four hundred Federals taken prisoners at the Wilderness were also recaptured. 
Before leaving Beaver Dam Station, Sheridan was fiercely assaulted by "Jeb" Stuart, 
and the battle proved a savage one, the Federal loss being very heavy. But Sheridan 
coolly crossed the North Anna by Ground-.Squirrel Bridge, and at daylight on May 11 
captured Ashland Station, on the Fredericksburg Railroad. Destroying more property, 
he proceeded toward Richmond as far as Yellow Tavern, six miles from the Confeder- 
ate capital, on the Brooktown pike. Here Stuart was found in strong force, he having 
reached that point by forced marches. 

General Merritt was the first to discover the enemy, and moved forviard to the 



524 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




anvds Pontoon Briddes, 

across ^ 

Horttii\mRi\/er: 




Corps Jlmiuuiiiu/i imi 

(rossind Pontoof) ^r/'doe. 



^.YEnmeerJConstmtin^ 

roc\d onJoufh hdnp of 
tlofth /{find /(jyer' 




yyy KfW/oeerj Co/^j/rudwd 

' /i'oddonjoulh Jbitnko/ ^' 
Aor//i A'rf/7^ /f/'i/e/? 



C/)esterfield Bnc/op 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



525 



attack. Wilson's division and one of Gregg's brigades were sent to his support. The 
Confederates had placed a battery in a position to enfilade the road, their guns doing 
considerable execution. But while Devin's and Gibbs' brigades stood fast, General 
Custer made a brilliant charge on Stuart's left, when two field guns were captured and 
Stuart's left turned, his right and centre being also driven in. General Stuart had never 
before suffered such a repulse, and grew so desperate in his efforts to reform his lines 
that he exposed himself and fell, being mortally wounded. He died in the City of Rich- 
mond on May 13. The fall of Stuart put an end to the battle of Yellow Tavern. 

Sheridan had then the temerity to attempt a capture of the works around Richmond, 
Custer crossing the first line and seizing two pieces of artillery, with one hundred pris- 
oners. Th<- CiinfcdL-rate force was, however, too strong, so Sheridan and his troopers 





\d pontoon jbridges oi/er Pdnn//iKey ^/r^/^ 




<r-»'' 




El 11 i^^ ^.. 







^^ 



.A^ 



B^ffielCfiurcf).A«v;f|!''(jen.Burf]5i(]e. 



A% 



'^ Qj- Bl 



,d6^ 



retired toward the Chickahominy. While rebuilding Meadow Bridge he was attacked 
by Fitz Hugh Lee, who had succeeded .Stuart, but the latter was handsomely repulsed. 
On May 14 Sheridan opened communication with General Butler on the York River, 
obtained rations, and gave his men and horses three days' rest. Then leisurel)- returning 
by way of Baltimore -Store, White House, and Hanover Court House, the cavalry rejoined 
the Army of the Potomac on May 25. 

Grant having successfully made his flanking movement, resolved to cross the North 
Anna River, setting his columns in motion at midnight of May 19. Lee was quick to dis- 
cover the purport of this movement, and ordered Ewell to attack the Federal right wing. 
Ewell crossed the Ny during the afternoon, seized the Fredericksburg road and cap- 
tured a Federal ammunition train. Ewell's troops then encountered the division of raw 
heavy artillery, under General R. O. Tyler, which fought gallantly and repulsed the Con- 
federate veterans. Then the Fifth and Second Corps came up and continued the pur- 
suit. This brief engagement for the possession of the North Anna delayed Grant in 



!;2'=; 



IJIE JM HMO RIAL WAR BOOK. 




IHE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



527 



crossing the Matapony River until the following night. His base of supplies was now 
at Fredericksburg, and he resolutely moved forward on his bloody campaign. 

The Federal army began crossing the Matapony River, at Milford Bridge, on the 
morning of May 22, Warren pushing on to Harris' Store. Burnside and Wright had 
been left at Spottsylvania, confronting Hill, the corps under Ewell and Anderson having 
begun their race with Hancock and Warren for the North Anna. Then Burnside left 
Wright and moved to New Bethel Church, the Sixth Corps taking position at Guiney's 
.Station. Here Hill made an attack, but was speedily repulsed by Wright, who finding 
that the Confederates were hastening to join their main body, also started to get in 
touch with Hancock. That night the Federal forces were reunited near the northern 
bank of the North Anna, Lee's entire army being strongly posted on the opposite 
side. 

At sunrise of May 23 Warren marched for Jericho Ford, followed by Wright. The 
Fifth Corps reached the river at five o'clock in the afternoon, when a brigade waded 





Colleciinp remains 01- the dedd Cdmp tn the woods al Cold Harbo/: 




Fhotomfjiiers Cd/npd (oldHdrtor Pdrt of Bdlt/e field of- coMHdrfior 



waist-high through the water, under cover of their sharpshooters, and captured the foru. 
Pontoons being laid, the corps crossed and formed line, Crawford's division being on 
Warren's left, ne.xt the river, with Griffin in the centre and Cutler on the right. Before 
the line was formed Hill's corps made an attack, but was repulsed, and Hill left behind 
five hundred men as prisoners, with his killed and wounded. By nightfall Wright crossed 
and strengthened Warren. Simultaneous with this movement, Hancock marched to a 
wooden bridge west of the Fredericksburg Railroad, arriving just after sunset. As the 
bridge was guarded, Egan's and Pierce's brigades charged and captured it. The Con- 
federates retreated so rapidly over the structure that many men were pushed into the river 
and drowned. Hancock decided to wait for daylight before crossing. Burnside ad- 
vanced to O.x Ford, midway between Telegraph Road and Jericho Ford, halting on the 
bank in the darkness. 

At daylight of the 24th Hancock crossed without opposition and formed line, facing 
nearly west. He also destroyed part of the railroad. The remainder of Wright's corps 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



joined Warren, extending his line on the right, south of the Virginia Central Railroad, 
which was also destroyed for a considerable distance. Burnside found the Confederates 
in ii-reat force at (^x Ford, and he was unable to cross. In the meantimf Grant had 
ordered Hancock aiul Warren to each send a brigade to (),\ I'Ortl, Init c\cn with this 
increased force the passage was deemed hazardous. Another crossing being found, 
Burnside sent Crittenden's division over, and it connected with Crawford's left. Potter's 
division went over by the wooden bridge and joined Hancock. Crittenden lost heavily 
while crossing, being attacked by Hill. Burnside remained on the north bank with his 
remaining divisions. 

The Federals were now straddling the North Anna. Lee, on the other hand, had a 
shorter line, and his army was all on one side of the river. He was also being heavily 




reinforced, for Pickett's division had arrived from Richmond, and Hoke's brigade had 
come up from North Carolina. Breckenridge's command was also on the ground. The 
Federal base of supplies was now shifted to the White House, on the Pamunkey River, 
all of the wagon trains moving to that point, while transports passed down the Chesa- 
peake Bay and up tlie \'()rk and Pamunkey Rivers, under guard of gunboats. 

Sheridan's cavalry having arrived, Wilson's division moved south to Little River to 
give the impression that Lee's left flank was to be attacked, and the Confederates being 
deceived by this manoeuvre. Grant's right wing was withdrawn to the north side of the river. 
Sheridan took Gregg's and Torbert's cavalry divisions, supported by Russell's division of 
infantry, to Hanover Ferry. The crossing was made on the morning of May 27, and a 
position south of the Pamunkey secured. On the morning of May 28 the entire 
Federal army crossed the Pamunkey, and were on McClellan's old ground. General 
Lee was completely deceived, and Grant had e.xtricated himself. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



529 




Dutch Gap Cana 



CHAPTER LX. 

THE SECOND BATTLE OE COLD HARBOR AND THE CROSSING OE THE JAMES RIVER. 

The Army of the Potomac was now on the historic peninsula, and the veterans 
who had survived battle and skirmish during the Antietam, Rappahannock, Gettysburg, 
and Overland campaigns, pointed out to their younger comrades many familiar pomts 
and objects. General Butler having been "bottled up" at Bermuda Hundred, to use 
General Grant's expressive phrase, Beauregard found himself able to send Lee nearly 
two-thirds of his strength. Butler was ordered by Grant to send ever\- man he could 
spare, while additional troops came 
from every available point. In addition 
to Beauregard's reinforcement, Lee was 
joined by Breckenridge, who came from 
West Virginia with ten thousand men. 
Both armies being thus reinforced, 
they began manceuvring for another 
battle. 

On May 28 General .Sheridan 
started on a reconnoissance over the 
Hanover Road, encountering the Con- 
federate cavalry, under Wade Hamp- 
ton and Fitz Hugh Lee, at Hawe's 
Store. A brisk battle ensued, when 
Lee and Hampton retired across the 
Tolopotomy Creek. Having thus se- 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



S3I 




532 THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



cured the roads, Grant ordered a reconnoissance in force. Haiuock aiul W ri^lit ailvanctil 
on Hanover Court House by converging roads, whilr W'arn-n niovctl toward Sluuly 
Grove Ciuirch. Rurnside followed Hancock and Warren, as reserve. 

Cieneral Wright arrived at Hanover Court House without serious oiiposition. hut 
Hancock found the Confederates in strong force along the hanks of the Tolopotomx, ami 
he had tt> halt. Warren was also checked a mile or two from Shady (irove Church, at a 
noint where the xoaA crosses the Tolopotonn . Here I'.well was iuon ing along thr 
Mechanicsville turnpike in hoptrs of turning the lu'deral Kit. General Cniwford, who 
now commanded the Pennsylvania Reserves, disci>\ ered the nun inunt, and sent Colonel 
Hartlin's brigade up the pike. Hardin got as far as Hethesada Church, where he met 
General Rodes, who made a furious attack and compelled the Reserves to retire to the 
Shadv Cirove Rinul. Here Crawford threw forward his remaining brigades, and by 
using several field guns, checked the Confederate ad\ .uue, and extendi'd his left to co\er 
the Mechanicsville Road, (."u'ueral Meade now ordered \\ right anil Hancock to nunt- 
forward and engage. The latter sint Harlow's ili\ ision forward, which speeilily l>roke 
the Confederate line. 

Seeing the impossibilit)- of forcing his wa)' across the Chickahominy by an attack in 
front. Grant again adopted his oUl plan of turning Lee's right flank, and moved on Cold 
Harbor, as it commanded the White lloust- and Richmiunl Roails. On Ma\ j;i General 
Torbert's cavalrv division captured C^iKl Harbor and held it, despite the eflorts of Gen- 
eral Hoke, who made a determineil attack on June i. Heing reinforced, Hoke pressed 
Torbert verv hard, but could not dislodge him. General \\ right hael been marching his 
corps all night from the extreme right of Meade's line, and now ad\ anced to Torbert's 
assistance. General W . 1". Smith had left Bernuul.i ilundred on Ma\ ::o with the 
Eighteenth Corps and part of the Tenth, he having tull\ sixteen thousand nun. His 
transports passed down the James and up the York and ranunike\ Rivers to White 
House in twenty-four hoius. Gn landing, he marched to Xew Castle, but had to counter- 
march a distance of twelve miles in order to join Wright, which he did iluring the after- 
noon of June 1. 

As the Federals, under \\ right and Smith, began fi>rming the Confeilerates threw up 
a line of rifle pits on the other side oi a broad field, nearly a mile away, their main force 
lieing sheltered and hidden by a broad belt of woodland. just before sunset Wright and 
Smith advanced, meeting a strong musketr\ lire, but their nun rushed forward and cap- 
tured the pits. A desperate struggle ensued at the second -line ot Confederate breast- 
works, the Federals being compelled to fall back to the first line, which they held and 
strengthened. Two thousand men fell in this brief engagement. 

The 2d of June was Thursday, ami both armies occupied the day and evening in 
massing for a general engagement, both W.trrin and Burnside being compelled to fight 
while the Federal lines were changing. Meade's line of battle that night extended from 
Tolopotomy Creek across the Cold Harbor Road to the Chickahominy River, while Sheri- 
dan's cavalry was guarding the right and the Chickahominy bords down to White House. 
General Lee had strengthened his forest position bv slashing timber all along its front, 
and digging rifle pits at every salient point, l.ongstreet occupied the Confederate cen- 
tre, Ewell being on his left and A. V. Hill ^m his right. While making these dispositions 
of their troops Grant and Lee discovered that they were really on the old Gaines' Mills 
battlefield, but the positions were reversed, for the Federals occupied the ground pre- 
viously held by Longstreet and Jackson, while the Confeilerates were mano^uvering on 
McClellan's field of operations. 

Rain began falling at midnight, and continued until long after sinirise. At daylight 
of June 3 Meade's entire army moved silently on the enemy. The result was the most 
deadly and desperate battle that occurred during the entire war. Not a shot was fired 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



5..3 




Cum EUEKATE BaTTEKV AT HuWLETT HoUSE, TkENt's ReACM, JaMES KlVEK. 



5>J 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Fo»T Daxuxc. Dkbwvt's BLnr, Jamcs Ritsk. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Confederate Battery o.n James Riv 



536 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



until the Federals could see the faces of their antagonists in tlie drizzling rain, nor did 
the Confederates ojien until the last moment. The effect was terrific, for fully onr luin- 
dred thousand muskets simultaneously began their murcU;rous work at a rangr of from 
sixty to seventy yards. As tlie sullen craslu's of muskctr\- \olk'_\s broke on the niist\ 
air fully two humlred ])ieoes of artillery added their tluiiuler to the deafening uproar. 
The assault occupieil a pt'riinl of liftt'cn minutes, ami the liatlle was o\er in less than an 
hour. The I'^ederals were repulsed with a loss of thirteen thousand men. This eni"-ai>c- 
ment was really a .series of battles, each corps operating se|)aratel\'. The desperate char- 
acter of the fighting is proved by the faet ihal (".eiieral r\ ler was se\erel\ wounded, 
while Colonels McMahon, Haskell, McKeen, Morris, and Porter wen- killed. The loss 
of the Confederates was not more than \\wvv thousaml men. 

The two armies stood at CoKI Harbor for ten da\s, working on their field intrench- 




ments, fighting whenever either side grtw too bold, or amicably exchanging coffee aiu. 
tobacco under temporar)- truce. On June 7 the dead were buried ainl The wounded 
gathered up during an armistice of two hours. C.rant then decided to cross the James. 
He had been unable to uncover Richmond, but Lee had suffered losses in men and ma- 
terial which he could n<n replace. C.eneral .Sheridan began the movement toward 
the James by destroying the Richmond and iM-edericksluirg Railroad, at Chesterville 
Station, and the Virginia Central, at Trevillian Station. 1 le'went as far as Louisa Court 
House before meeting Wade Hampt.Mi's horsemen, and retirc^d to Trevillian. where he 
was forced to fight for three hour.s. and then he cut ar.nmd b\- Spottsvlvania Court 
House back to Grants lines. Sending all the ties and rails between White House to 
Despatch Station, Grant shipped them on barges to be taken up the James. On the 
night of June 12, Warren's corps, led by Wilson's cavalry, crossed the Chicahominy River 
at Long Hridge and assumed position on White Oak Swamp, in order to cover the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



537 




5^J&!^-^*^"" 



53S 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



movement and mislead the enemy. Hancock's corps followed the Fifth, hut marched 
strai>'ht to Wilcox Landing, on the James. Burnside and Wright crossed the Cliicka- 
hominv at Jones' Bridge and moved to Charles City Court House. All the wagon trains 
went bv Cole's Ferry. General Smith was sent to While i louse, where he- disemharked. 
and once more made the grand tour by steamboat, reaching Bc:rmuda Hundred before 
Grant's army was massed on the James River. 

Gn ascertaining the scope of the Federal nioxcnienls, Fee retired to Richmond, 
leavini'- Grant undisturbed. During the afternoon and night ol June 14 the b'ederal en- 
trineers constructed a double pontoon bridge, two thousand ieet long, at Douthard's 
Crossin^T, and the entire army, horse, foot, and artilUry, had crossed the ri\er b\- sunset 
of the i6th, carrying over all their supply trains and other ini]udlnunta. 




This Overlanil Campaign occupietl a period ol forty-three days. Six thousantl 
five hundred and eighty-six men were killed in battle, witli twent\-six thousand 
and forty-seven wounded, and six thousand six hundred and twenty-six reported as 
missinf, an aggregate of thirty-nine thousand two hundred and fifty-nine. General Lee 
had eighty thousand men present in the Wilderness, and his reinforcements during the 
campaign amounted to thirty-eight thousand men. He lost ti\e thousand three hundred 
and six men killed on the lieUl ; nineteen thousand one hundretl and se\ ent\-loin- 
wounded, and seven thousaiid four huntlred and thirty-two missing, an aggregate of thirt\- 
one thousand nine hundred and twelve. Hospital statistics show that out of the 
wounded and missing one-third are added to the list of dead within a \ er\ brief period, 
so that fully thirty thousand lives were sacriticeil in these two armies iluring the forty- 
three days of battle and skirmish, while twent}' thousand more were st) maimed as to be 
unable to perform military duty. Such were the horrors of this tlreatlfid Ci\ il War. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



539 




CHAPTER LXI. 



GENERAL SHERMANS MOVEMENT AGAINST ATLANTA. 



When Major-General Sherman succeeded Lieutenant-General (irant in the com- 
mand of the Military Division of the Mississippi, he assumed control of the Departments 
and the armies of Arkansas, Cumberland, Ohio, 
and Tennessee, commanded by Major-Generals 
Steele, Thomas, Schofield, and McPherson. Sher- 
man thus had under his immediate control three 
separate armies, with a roster strength of three 
hundred and hft)-t\vo thousand men, distributed 
in many garrisons over a wide expanse of territory. 
He therefore decided to mobilize one compact 
army of one hundred thousand men, which included 
seven thousand cavalry and two hundred and fifty 
pieces of artillery. 

Opposed to General .Sherman was Lieutenant- 
General Joseph E. Johnston, who commanded all 
the Confederate troops in the West, and held the 
City of Atlanta and the interior of Georgia. 
Johnston had gathered up the remnants of his own 
and Bragg's old army, and he had fully sevent\- 
thousand men in the field. His corps commanders 
were Generals Hood, Hardee, and Polk, General 
Wheeler commanding the ten thousand Confed- 
erate horsemen. BKtM.T-M^.K.K-..KNtKM .,. o ^ 

( HOLD THF FORT. ) 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



1 




^ FfcLDERAL forTS. ^ 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



541 




^-"^f:^^*:^-''^ 




c?/)d I fs defences- 




1 he City of Atlanta was at that time uf equal importance with Richmond, for it 
was a great railroad centre, and contained the Confederate depots, mills, foundries, and 
manufactories of militar\- supplies. The cit\- itself was strongly defended by formidable 
intrenchments, and all the approaches had been made difficult by obstructions of every 
conceivable character. Johnston's army was lying behind intrenchments at Dalton, 
thirty miles from Chattanooga, and he contempla:ed a defensive campaign. 

General Grant had ordered Sherman to move simultaneously with the Army of the 
Potomac, and he started on May 6, the second day 
of the Battle of the Wilderness. A cavalry re- 
connoissance of the Confederate position at Dalton 
showed that it could not be carried by direct 
attack, even if Johnston was compelled to evacuate 
Tunnell Hill. South of the latter lies a valley 
bounded by Rocky Pace Ridge, which is a steep 
and rugged mountain, heavily wooded, command- 
ing all the approaches to Dalton. Midway be- 
tween Tunnell Hill and Dalton is a narrow pass, 
known as Buzzard's Roost, it being the outlet to 
the valley, while through it runs the railroad. 
Johnston had rendered Buzzard's Roost impreg- 
nable by means of rifle pits, batteries, and abatis. 
This made him secure from attack on the north- 
west, while on the northeast he was protected by 
enormous works on Mile Creek. 

General Sherman, therefore, decided to send 
General McPherson with his army on a rapid 
march southward from Gordon's Mills, through 




542 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Ship's Gap and Snake Creek Gap — the latter a pass in Rock)- Face Ridge— toward Re- 
saca, eii^htcen miles south of Dalton, on the Oostenaula River, where the railroad crosses. 
B\- this movement Sherman expected McPherson to capture and hoUl the railroad in 
Johnston's rear, and so compel the Confederates to evaucate Dalton. While McPherson 
was making this movement, both Thomas and Schotield advanced in strong force, ready 
to rush on Johnston should he leave Dalton. 

On May 9 McPherson reported that he had found Resaca too strong for an attack, hut 
he had possession of Snake Creek Gap, and was strongly fortifying himself. Thomas had, 
two days before, pushed forward from Ringgold to Tunnell Hill, and carried it, the h'our- 
teenth Corp.s, under General Palmer, doing the work. Johnston then retired to Buzzard's 
Roost. On May 8 General Howard's corps succeeded in carrying Rocky Face Ridge. 
Schoheld then took position on Thomas' left. McPherson's movement having failed, 




Sherman started all of Thomas' arm\-, except two of Howard's divisions, and also Scho- 
tield's army, toward the lelt ot Ihizzard's Roost. Resaca occupies a peninsula, formed 
by the junction ol ilu- Oostenaula and Conasauga Rivers. Across this neck of land the 
Confederates had erecteil a strong line of held wt)rks, further protected h\ ritfe pits, which 
made it difficult of attack. 

On May 13 .Sherman's army passed through Snake Creek Gap, and took position in 
Sugar X'alley. During this movement General Judson C. Kilpatrick. who commanded 
the cavalry, was severely wounded. The next day the Federal advance approached Re- 
saca, the right, under McPherson, resting on the Oostenaula, the left, under Scholfield, 
extending to the Conasauga, while Thomas held the centre. Johnston now abandoned 
Dalton, and reached Resaca in advance of Sherman. About daybreak of May 14 skir- 
mishing began, but there was no serious fighting, the Federals finally enveloping the 
town and threatening Calhoun Station. There was brisk, sharp fighting all along the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



543 



lines during the 15th, several times almost rising to the dignity of a battle, but there was 
no result until the evening, when McPherson advanced his whole army line and took 
possession of a ridge overlooking the town. Planting several batteries, he shelled the 
railroad bridge across the Oostenaula River, when the Confederates then began what 
Sherman called very handsome lighting, but they were repulsed time and again. 

Generals Sherman, Thomas, and McPherson were sitting in their saddles at a cross- 
roads when Hooker's note, announcing the capture of a four-gun battery, was brought bv 
an aide. "Gentlemen," e.xclaimed Sherman, "we will advance on the enemy at all 
points at daylight." As he spoke a bright light appeared beyond the town of Resaca. 
"See," he continued, "that looks like a retreat!" 

General Sherman's surmise was correct, for Johnston moved his arm\' across the 




river during that night, setting fire to the bridges. At dawn of the i6th the Federals 
entered Resaca and began a vigorous pursuit, and on the evening of the i 7th Newton's 
division, of Thomas' army, struck Johnston's rear guard at Adairsville. General Jefferson 
C. Davis reached Rome on the same day, at the confluence of the Oostenaula and 
Etowah, fifteen miles west of Kingston. On the 19th Davis had a sharp engagement, 
which resulted in his getting possession of the town and an immense quantit)- of stores, 
all of which were destroyed. 

General [ohnston retired to Allatoona Pass, five miles south of the Etowah River, 
and Sherman resumed his Hanking movement. Leaving garrisons at Rome and Kings- 
ton, the Federal arm\' cut loose from its railroad communications, and started, on May 23, 
for Dallas, fifteen miles south of Allatoona Pass. The route was difificult and the move- 
ment slow, but it compelled Johnston to move towards Dallas, in order to protect 



IHE Ml-: MORI AL WAR BOOK 




^i4J6 from pdrdpet of Confederate l^orAs. 



I IONS Ai' An. AN FA, Ga; 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



545 



Marietta. A severe fight occurred on the 25th, near Pumpkin Vine Creek, between 
Hooker's corps and partsof Hood's and Hardee's commands. Johnston now concentrated 
his forces near New Hope Church, and attacked McPherson, but was driven back with 
heavy loss. Stoneman's and Garrard's cavalry then captured Allatoona Pass, and on June 
4 Sherman marched away from Johnston, going- to Big -Shanty, General Blair joining the 
army with two divisions of the Seventeenth Corps and a cavalry Ijrigade. 

The Federal army was now marching through a mountainous country, the towering 
peaks of Lost Mountain, Kenesaw (or Twin Mountain), and Pine Mountain, forming a 
triano-le. On all these heights the Confederates had signal stations, the outlying hills 
beino- occupied by batteries, while men were felling trees and preparing breastworks. 
Johnston had received fifteen thousand Georgia troops, which increased his force to 




seventy-eight thousand men, including fifteen thousand horsemen, who were hanging on 
Sherman's flanks or operating in his rear. Schofield was now on Sherman's right, facing 
Hood ; Thomas remained in the centre, opposite Polk, while McPherson went to the left, 
confrontino- Hardee. McPherson moved towards Marietta, Thomas on Kenesaw and 
Pine Mountains, Schofield on Lost Mountain. Considerable manceuvering ensued, Avith 
desultory skirmishing, until June 15, General Polk being killed by an unexploded shell 
while a battery belonging to the Fourth Corps was cannonading Pine Mountain. 

Rain beo-an falling heavily, and the advance was necessarily slow and cautious. 
Sherman having learned that General Sturgis had been defeated by General Forrest, 
and driven into Memphis, he sent A. J. Smith after Forrest. This kept the Confederate 
general from entering Tennessee. Both Johnston's and Sherman's armies were cutting 
and slashing the timber, and erecting log breastworks at every new position, fully two 



546 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



hundred miles of log walls being built during a single week. Clear sunshine greeted the 
troops on June 22, and the movement began at once, Pine Mountain having been aban- 
doned by Johnston. On the 22d Hooker and Schofield were attacked at the Kulp 
House, when Hooker suffered severely. Sherman ordered an assault on Kenesaw Moun- 
tain on the 27th. but the effort failed, Generals Harker and Daniel McCook being among 
the Federal killed. Sherman's troops had to climb the mountain slope, through tangled 
abatis and lines of rille pits, in the face of a steady musketry and artillery f^re. 

Sherman's next movement was toward the Chattahoochee River. Schofield having 
crossed Olley's Creek, thus threatening Joe Johnston's rear. The I^Y-deral army again 
left the railroad and depended on its wagons for supplies, the movement compelling 
Johnston to abandon Kenesaw Mountain on July 2 and assume temporary possession of 
a new position along the line of the Chattahoochee River. This really ended the first 
staoe of Sherman's campaign against Atlanta. It had proved a very costly and bloody 
onetol)oth Federals and Confederates. Sherman's losses during May and June were 
over two thousand killed and thirteen thousand wounded. Johnston lost during the 
same period twelve hundred men killed and nearly fourteen thousand wounded, the total 
for both armies during these fifty-four days being three thousand two hundred killed in 
battle and twenty-seven thousand wounded. Of the latter fully nine thousand died in 
hospital. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



547 




CHAPTER LXII. 



SHERMAN" S SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF ATLANTA. 



On July I, 1864, General Sherman began another flanking movement. While Scho- 
field and Hooker marched two miles to the right, McPherson shifted his entire force 
from the extreme left to the right and pressed forward to Nickajack Creek, above its junc- 
tion with the Chattahoochee. Garrard's cavalry division held McPherson's old ground, 
while Stoneman's horsemen moved on the extreme right flank, and struck Turner's Ferry, 
a few miles below the rail- 
road bridge. Perched as 
he was on the top of 
Kenesaw Mountain, Gen- 
eral Johnston detected 
the scope of the Federal 
movement, and promptly- 
evacuated his stronghold, 
falling back to the Chat- 
tahoochee. When Gen- 
eral Schofield's pickets 
discovered, on the morn- 
ing of July 3, that the 
Confederate works had 
been abandoned, sunrise 
saw the Stars and Stripes 
fluttering on the crest of 
o-rim old Kenesaw. 




S4S 



772^^ MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Thomas beo-an marching in three coUimns to the Hne of the railroad, thence south- 
ward to the Chattahoochee. All of the Federal corps were in rapid motion, and Sher- 
man entered Marietta as the Confederate cavalry were retiring before Logan's corps. 
Schofield and McPherson were then ordered to cross Xickajack Creek and attack John- 
ston's flank and rear, in order to harass and confuse him while taking his arm)- over the 
Chattahoochee. The military sagacity of the Confederate commander had, however, 
anticipated just such a movement, and he had thrown up a strong line of intrenchments 
across the Smyrna Road, five miles from Marietta, his flanks being protected by Rotten- 
wood and Xickajack Creeks. 

On the 4th of luly Sherman sent Thomas forward to engage, the fighting lieing of a 
feeble and disjointetl character, Sherman's aim being to keep Johnston occupied while 
McPherson and Schofield swept round to the lower Chattahoochee crossings. At Vin- 
in<f's Station there is a high hill, from the top of which Sherman could distinguish the 
houses in the City of Atlanta, only nine miles away. While personally reconnoitering 
his own lines. General Sherman came near riding into a Confederate cavalry detachment. 
Heavy skirmishing took place during the 5th, when Sherman discovered that the 
only way to turn the Confederates' intrenched position would be to cross the river. The 
Chattahoochee is a deep and rapid stream, the few fords being difficult and dangerous, 
so the Federal movement was full of peril. Schofield crossed Soap Creek on July 7. 
Rapidly constructing some bridges, the Army of the Ohio assumed a strong position on 
the east bank. Garrard's cavalry were at Rosewell, destroying the Confederate cotton 
and woollen mills that had been supplying Johnston's army. Thomas hurried forward 
Newton's division to support Garrard and hold the fort until General Dodge's corps 
arrived and crossed, followed by the remainder of the Army of the Tennessee. On the 
9th Sherman was in possession of three crossing points above the Confederate position, 
at Nickajack Creek, Power's Ferry, and the railroad bridge at Paice's Ferry. Johnston 
was now again outmanoeuvered and compelled to abandon his breastworks on the Chat- 
tahoochee, which had cost six weeks' labor of one thousand slaves. Burning his bridges 
and concentrating his forces, Johnston abandoned all of the Chattahoochee countrj', east 
and west, and retired behind the fortifications around Atlanta. Sherman then launched 
an independent cavalry force, under General Rousseau. Starting from Decatur, Ala- 
bama, on July 10, Rousseau pushed across the Boosa River and destroyed several rail- 
road bridges. Passing through Talladega, he broke up the tracks as far as Opelika, and 
all the branches leading to Columbus and West Point. 

General Johnston's withdrawal into Atlanta raised such a storm of indignation 
throughout the Confederacy that this able Southern soldier threw up his command in 
disgust, being succeeded by General J. B. Hood. On July 17 Sherman set his troops in 
motion for Atlanta, Thomas crossing the turbid Chattahoochee at Power's and Paice's 
F'ords. McPherson moved toward Stone Mountain, Schofield going toward Cross Keys. 
By a wheeling movement, the several corps faced to the right, Thomas forming line of 
battle near Buckland, and fronting Peach-Tree Creek. McPherson stood on his right, 
along the railroad between .Stone Mountain and Decatur, Schofield being on the left. 
On July 1 9 Sherman's troops were so near the coveted city, and had met with such 
feeble resistance, that it was supposed that Hood was evacuating Atlanta. But Sherman 
was soon undeceived, for on July 20 Hood fell upon Hooker. The Confederates poured 
out of their intrenchments, and were pushing Hooker hard when Thomas hastened up 
and placed several batteries on the north side of Peach-Tree Creek, which opened furi- 
ously on a mass of infantry that were passing round the Federal left. This changed the 
complexion of affairs, the Confederates finally retiring, leaving their dead and wounded 
on tiie field. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



549 



General Hood next resorted to stratagem, for he pretended to fall back, thus lead- 
ing Sherman to advance only to find a stronger line of redoubts and curtains confronting 
him. Here the Federals sustained a grievous loss. General McPherson rode over to 
see Sherman on the morning of July 22, and reported having secured a position on a hill 
that overlooked the city. While they were conversing heavy firing broke out in the 
rear, and as it was evidently on McPherson's line, he rode off with his staff. Dispersing 
his aides as he galloped on various errands, the General unwittingly rode into a Confeder- 
ate line, which, opening fire, he fell from his saddle a dead man. Ignorant of IVIcPher- 
son's fate, Sherman waited to hear from him, but it was nearly an hour before the truth 
was known. General Logan was placed in temporary command of the Army of the 
Tennessee, as the Confederates were attacking in three heavy columns, striking the .Six- 



?■ • ^ 




Copyright, iSSS, by L. Prang i:' Co 



teenth Corps. General Dodge's men met the assault in gallant style, but Hood's troops 
got in rear of the Seventeenth Corps, attacking Leggett's, Giles', and A. Smith's divis- 
ions in front and rear. The fighting became severe all along the line. Fuller's and 
Sweeney's divisions then advanced, though most of the men had exhausted their supply 
of cartridges, and drove back the Confederates at the point of the bayonet. The 
body of their dead General was found under some trees and sent to Sherman's headquarters. 
At half-past four o'clock Hood sent in a heavy force, en masse, and assailed the Fif- 
teenth Corps, now commanded by General M. L. Smith. The movement began auspi- 
ciously for the' Confederates, as they drove back a part of the Federal line and captured 
two pieces of artillery. But Lightburn's brigade managed to check the movement. 
Then another column of Confederates came rushing through a deep cut of the Georgia 
Railroad, which carried them to Lightburn's rear, compelling him to retreat in consider- 



5 so 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



able confusion, losing two batteries. The Fifteenth Corps now rallied, and receiving the 
support of Schofieldrrushed back. A fearful fight ensucil, the l)attk--maddened Southern 
and Northern soldiers clubbing their muskets as weapons in the hand-to-hand conflict. 
The Federal batteries next opened on the Confederate supports, which gave wa\, and the 
advance line fell back, followed by showers of grape and canister, which strewed the 
earth with more dead and dying men. The desperate and bloody character of this Bat- 
tle of Decatur is shown by the terrible losses. There were three thousand two hunched 
and forty-si.x Confederate dead left on the fieltl. Hood also lost three thousaml men, 
taken prisoners. The l-'ederal loss was three thousand seven hundred and twent\-two 
men. General Garrard returneil from a raid around Covington while the two armies 
were burying their dead, having destroyed the bridges over the Ulcofauhatchee and Yel- 




low Rivers, one or two trains of cars, several thousand bales of cotton, and the depots 
at Conger's Station and Covington. 

The battle of Decatur compelled Homl to remain quiet, so Sherman started his 
cavalry on another and more extensive raid. Hitherto there had been four independent 
cavalry commands, under Generals Stoneman, Garrard, McCook, and Rousseau. These 
were now consolidated into two strong divisions, Stoneman's going to the left flank, while 
McCook took the right. Each was to move against the Macon Railroad, and meet at 
Lovejoy's, thirty miles south of Atlanta. General Stoneman had also been given per- 
mission to try and release the Federals imprisoned at Andersonville, but with the stipu- 
lation that Wheeler's Confederate cavalry must first be met and defeated. Stoneman, 
however, was so delighted with his own plan of rescue that he disobeyed orders by cut- 
ting his command in two. 

Leaving Garrard at Flat Rock, Stoneman started for Macon to release the P'edcral 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Cm- OF Atlanta, Ga. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




prisoners, but found that they had been removed, 
and p.s he could not reach Andersonville, where 
h'ederals were suffering untold hardship and cruel- 
t\. Stoneman started back, but encountered Gen- 
tral Wheeler, and was surrounded. One brigade 
was captured entire, but Colonel Adams carried 
his command back to Sherman in good order, 
while Colonel Capron's was dispersed and captured 
in detail. General McCook went to Rivertown, 
crossed the Chattahoochee on pontoons, and 
reaching Payetteville, burned five hundred wagons, 
shot eight hundred mules, and took nearly one 
thousand prisoners. Arriving at Newman's Sta- 

'1_ tion on July 28, he met a strong force of Confed- 
erates, and being surrounded, had to cut his way 
through. 

General Howard now assumed command of 
the Army of the Tennessee, General Stanley going 
to the head of the corps, and Hooker asked to be 

up from X'icksburg to lead the Twentieth Corps. 



relieved. General Slocum comint 
Hood seeing that Sherman was swinging round towards the Macon Railroad sent a 
large force over the Bell's Ferry Road, and then advanced against Logan's corps in a 
magnificent line of battle. The Federals saluted them with a steady volley of musketry, 
followed by swift discharges of grape and canister. So suddenly did the Confederate 
line begin to melt that the men broke in confusion and fied before the storm of lead 
and iron. Six times did their officers reform the assaulting line, but the continuity 
of the initial charge could not be sustained, and the effort ceased at four o'clock in the 
afternoon, the Confederates ha\ing lost fully five thousand men, Logan's being only 
si.x hundred. From that date the Confederates acted entirely on the defensive, meeting 
every southern extension of Sherman's by erecting new forts and curtains. 

Though Hood's force was of inferior strength, the siege operations compelled Sher- 
man to extend his line so much that he was unable to place a heavy force at any one 
point for an assault. Sherman therefore decided on pushing his right flank until it envel- 
oped the Macon Railroad, which would enable him to starve Hood into surrender. The 
City of Atlanta was shelled and frequently set on fire, while traffic on the Macon Railroad 
was constantly interrupted. 

General Sherman now ordered the Twentieth Corps, temporarily under General A. 
S. Williams, back to the intrenched depot at Chattahoochie Bridge, and General Kilpat- 
rick, who had returned to the field, was given five thousand horsemen and sent to cut the 
railroads. Kilpatrick started on August 18, and reached both the Macon and West 
Point Railroads, but was unable to do much damage, owing to the presence of a large 
force of infantry and cavalry under General Ross. Then the Federal army stripped for 
its sweeping movement. 

On the night of August 25 Howard's army moved from the extreme left toward 
Sandtown and across Camp Creek, Thomas marching south of Utoy Creek, leaving the 
Army of the Ohio in siege position. Then Howard struck the West Point Railroad, 
near Fairborn, Thomas being at Red Oak Station and Schofield going to Mount Gilead 
Church. These movements left Atlanta entirely uncovered, and Hood's first impression 
was that Sherman was retreating. On the 28th several miles of the West Point Rail- 
road were destroyed, including Fairborn and Red Oak Stations. The next day Howard 
started for Jonesboro, Thomas marching to Shoal Creek Church, while Schofield moved 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



SS3 



to Morrow's Mills. General I. D. Lee's corps and General Hardee's were then sent by 
Hood to Jonesboro, but Thomas took position at Couch's, with Schofield at Rough and 
Ready, Howard succeeding after some opposition in passing Renfrew. 

General Thomas sent Stanley's corps and one of Davis' divisions to connect with 
Schofield, who was advancing to seize the railroad. On August 31 Hardee and Lee 
attacked Howard, but were driven back with a loss of three thousand men and two bat- 
teries. Among their dead was Major-General Anderson. The result was that Schofield 
tore up the railroad, and General Sherman decided to move forward with his whole force. 
He met with very little opposition, and the work of destruction proceeded until, finally, 
it was ascertained that Hardee and Lee had disappeared. During the morning of 
September i, sounds of what was supposed to be heavy cannonading were heard in the 




direction of Atlanta, and Sherman imagined that Slocum, who had arrived and relieved 
General Williams, had either been attacked or was obeying orders to feel the enemy 
left on his front. That evening Sherman received a letter from Slocum announcing the 
evacuation of Atlanta and his occupancy of the city. 

General Hood, having decided to abandon Atlanta, loaded one hundred cars with 
ammunition, and when his rear guard had gone, set fire to the trains, depots, and store- 
houses. The explosions that ensued were the " cannonading " Sherman supposed was going 
on. The formal surrender was made by the Mayor on September 2, the pursuit of 
Hood and Hardee being abandoned. Then ensued a military measure which shows how 
cruel are the necessities of war. Every family having a member in the Confederate 
army was compelled to leave the city, over two thousand men, women, and children, 
with their servants, obeying the order. Atlanta thus became a military depot, governed 
only by military law. During this campaign of four months the Federals lost thirty-one 
thousand six hundred and eighty men. The losses of the Confederates footed up thirty- 
four thousand nine hundred and eighty-six. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




ecN Kbarsarge 



CHAPTER LXIII. 



OPERATIONS OF THE CONFEDERATE PRIVATEERS AND THE SINKING OF THE ALABAMA BV 

THE REARS A RUE. 

For over two vears the North had suffered severely by the operations of the Con- 
federate privateers on the high seas in destroying- Federal merchant shipping. The 
schooner Savannah was the first of these vessels of marque, but her career was brief, as 
she soon surrendered to the Perry. Then the Petrel, the Inda, the Nashville, and the 
Sumter appeared. The Petrel was blown to pieces ofif Charleston by the frigate St. 
Lawrence, the Inda was burned at Pensacola, and the Nashville was destroyed on the 
Ogeechee River, near Fort McAllister. The Sumter was commanded by Captain 
Raphael Semmes, who for months committed awful havoc among merchant vessels flying 
the Stars and Stripes. Semmes had been a distinguished officer in the United States 
navy before the war. 

The frigate Tuscarora cruised after the Sumter, and finally forced Semmes to escape 
capture by taking refuge in the neutral waters of Gibraltar. Being blockaded there for 
weeks Semmes sold his privateer and proceeded overland with his otticers to Calais, 
thence to Liverpool, where the famous Alabama was nearly ready for sea. British ship- 
yards turned out other vessels, among them the Oreto, which entered Mobile Bay as a 
blockade runner. Being armed and re-named the Florida, she cruised under the command 
of Captain Maffit, in West Indian waters. Reaching Brest in September, 1S63, the 
Morida was detained for a time, and on being released. Captain Morris, who then com- 
manded her, visited the coast of Brazil. The United States frigate Wachusett found her 
in the port of Bahia, and she was captured in neutral waters, contrary to international 
law. Being brought to Hampton Roads, pending legal proceedings for her release, the 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 





Florida was "mysteriously" sunk one dark night, and that was the end of her. The 
Tallahassee, the Georgia, the Shenandoah, and the Chicamauga were also very destruc- 
tive, the value of mercantile shipping burned by them at sea being many millions of dollars. 
Ultimately all four were driven into the harbor of Wilmington, where they were 
destroyed by the Confederates to avoid capture. 

The Alabama was built by Laird, at Birkenhead, untk^r the; title of "The 290." 
Being ready for sea, she was taken to the Island of Terceira under B)ritish colors and 
a British captain, another Jjritish vessel carrying her armament. Semmes assumed 
command outside of port limits on August 26, 1862, and the " 290" became the Alabama. 
Lowering the British ensign, Semmes hoisted the Confederate flag and started out on 
a cruise that lasted eighteen months, during which time he captured forty-seven Federal 
vessels, destroying all but three. The Alabama also fought the Federal blockader 
Hatteras, off Galveston, in January, 1863, sinking her opponent in less than twenty 
minutes. Cruising in the West Indies, along the coast of Brazil, and in the Malay 
Archipelago, Semmes finally entered the French harbor of Cherbourg, on June 11, 1864. 
Three days after her arrival, the United States frigate Kearsarge, Captain John A. 
Winslow, appeared off the mouth of the harbor and dropped anchor. Semmes coolly 
requested Winslow, through the United States Consul, to wait a few days, until he could 
])Ut the privateer in fighting trim. This just suited Winslow. On Sunday morning, 
June 19, the Alabama steamed out (jf Cherbourg harbor in company with the French 
warship Caurronne. The latter drew off as the Confederate vessel left the limits of 
I'^rench waters, her duty being to see that the projected naval duel did not occur within 
the jurisdiction of France. The Alabama was also attended by Mr. Lancaster's English 
steam yacht Deerhound, on board of which were several personal friends of Captain 
Semmes. Their motive was subsequently explained. 

As soon as he saw the Alabama coming out. Captain Winslow weighed anchor and 
steamed away to sea, a distance of seven miles from shore, in order that there could be no 
possible complication regarding neutral waters. Having reached his distance, Winslow 
put his vessel about and cleared decks for action. The Kearsarge's guns were pivotted 
to starboard as she bore down on the Alabama. \\ hen within a mile of his adversary 
Semmes let fly his guns, but received no reply, Winslow receiving three broadsides with- 
out firing a shot, the Confederate guns doing very little damage. Coming within one 
thousand yards' range, Winslow opened fire with his starboard battery, planting a solid 
shot in the Alabama's frame. 



556 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



The battle then began in dead earnest, and the cannonading grew fast and furious 
during the next sixty minutes. The EngHsh gunners fired rapidly, Init their aim was 
bad, while the Americans were more deliberate and took careful aim, conseciuently nearly 
every shot from the Kearsarge told. During this combat, both vessels were moving 
in a circle ; the currents were, however, gradualh' drawing the vessels together until 
they came within five miles of the French coast. 

At noon Captain Semmes discovered that his vessel was rapidly fdling, she having 
been hit several times between wind and water. In hopes of saving the Alabama he started 
for shore, intending to beach her. The Kearsarge, though shattered in her upper works, 
was in excellent fighting trim, so Winslow ran across the Alabama's bows, raking the 
doomed vessel with all his heavy guns. Then the Confederate struck her colors and 
ran up a white flag in token of surrender. The Kearsarge immediately ceased firing, 
when, to the surprise of the Americans, the Alabama fired two guns, and Winslow angrily 
T 




resumed hostilities until an officer arrived from the Confederate privateer to make a 
formal surrender of the ship and crew. 

At twenty minutes after twelve o'clock, while the Kearsarge was only a few hun- 
dred yards away, there was great commotion on board the Alabama, the crew leaping into 
the sea by scores. Then the vessel gave a sudden lurch, and the next instant her stern 
went under water, and the privateer swiftly disappeared in forty fathoms of water. The 
wrecked crew clung to boxes, spars, and other debris. Then two boats were sent from 
the Kearsarge to rescue the drowning men, being assisted by some French pilot boats. 
The yacht Deerhound picked up Captain Semmes and several of his officers, and steamed 
away, thus violating international law, as the Confederates were prisoners to the United 
States. Seventy men were picked up, and the Kearsarge proceeded to Cherbourg. The 
sinking of this famous Confederate privateer made a deep impression, for it was taken as 
another sign that the war could not last much longer. The frigate Kearsarge remained 
in the United States service until April, 1894, when she ran aground on Roncondor Reef, 
in the Bahamas, being totally destroyed — a sad fate for the gallant and historic ship. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



557 




General L . h. 



AT CiTv Point, \ f 



CHAPTER LXIV 



BEGIXXIXG OF THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG AND THE MINE EXPLOSION'. 



The City of Petersburg, Virginia, is twenty-two miles from Richmond and ten miles 
southeast of the James River. It is the central point for five railroads, giving communi- 
cation with the Carolinas and Southern Virginia. Its possession by Federal troops 
would cut of? Richmond and necessitate the evacuation of the Confederate capital. The 
city, therefore, became the bone of contention in the East, and w^hen it fell the war 
ended. When Grant had crossed the James, Lee threw most of his forces into the in- 
trenchments around Petersburg. It should be mentioned here that Generals Butler and 
.Sigel had not succeeded in their movements up the James River, or through the -Shen- 
andoah, consequently Lee had not been enveloped as Grant had planned. Butler did 
get within striking distance of Richmond, but the effort failed through the activity of Beau- 
regard, while Sigel was ignominiously driven back to the Potomac by Breckenridge. 

On June i6 the new campaign began. The Second, Eighteenth and Ninth Corps 
formed line of battle, and advanced along the line of the Norfolk Railroad against some 
strong intrenchments. The engagement opened at six o'clock and lasted until nine with 
some severity. Barlow and Potter obtained a foothold, but were finally driven back 
with great loss. On the morning of the i jth Burnside made another effort, which 
proved successful, and the works were taken. The Fifth and Sixth Corps coming up, 
General Smith took his Eighteenth Corps across the Appomattox River pontoon bridge, 
and rejoined Butler at Bermuda Hundred. During the next four days several assaults 
were made by the Federal and Confederate troops, neither gaining anything, though ten 



S5« 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




6en.6mn He^dgmtefs, o^f'ffjl Oen 6rdiih Heddiimter^i. Hapitsl m<iif on/lpporndttox Riven 





.i'dn'rsdt 











nfffP^^tytk 


MRHBIh 


i 


^^^^^^s 


1 .S 1 ^^^i 






•■oxRiYfir 



^idimii'/s.^iidPofComr. . 



Views at Citt Point. Va. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



559 



thousand men were killed or wounded on both sides. On June 21 and 23 efforts were 
made to seize the Weldon Railroad, but they failed, Meade, however, extending his line 
around Petersburg. During the remainder of June there was hot fighting every hour of 
the day, and frequently far into the night, for the two armies had now fought each other 
to a standstill. It would fatigue the reader to describe all the mtjvements in detail, for 
they were monotonous in their similarity. A cavalry force under Generals Wilson and 
Kautz made an extensive raid, cutting the Weldon Railroad at Ream's Station, and 
the Lynchburg and Danville Road at Burkesville. Active work continued during July, 
the Federals gradually drawing their siege lines closer around the city. .Secretary Stan- 
ton then relieved Butler from the command of the Army of the James, but Grant again 




.M,Hv-.-E ((.'. 



Soi.DiRRS " Fort D* 



showed his authority by countermanding the order, and relieving Generals .Smith and 
Gillmore, as chiefly responsible for Butler's failure. 

The siege progressed until July 30, when a huge mine was exploded. Lieutenant 
Pleasant, of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, was a practical coal miner, and suggested 
running a sap through a ravine undr a Confederate fort on Cemetery Hill, the key to 
Lee's lines. The sap was dug in thirty days and nights. When an enormous quantity 
of powder had been placed in the pockets, preparations were made for exploding it. By 
this time the Federal line of intrenchments was over twenty miles long. General 
Foster's division, of the Tenth Corps, occupied Deep Bottom, on the northern side of 
the James River, threatening the old ground at Malvern Hills. It also commanded three 
parallel roads leading to Richmond. While the Nineteenth Corps crossed the pontoon 
bridge in rear of Foster's position, the Second Corps moved from the extreme left of 



SCO 



THE MEMORIAL WAR POOR. 




TIIF. MliMORIAI. WAN /lonh'. 561 



Meade's line, followed by Sheridan's cavalry. Hoth commands went over the bridj^e diir- 
\n'^ the night of July 26, the; sound of their jjassage being conce-ale-d by a thick covfrring 
of grass and hay. A line of Ijattle was forimd at dayliglit, on the .\<:vv Mark'l Road, 
.Sheridan and Kautz holding the right with their horsemen. 1 he Second Corps lay at 
.Strawberry Plains, with the Nineteenth Corps connf^cting it with l-'ostcr. (jeneral Han- 
cock's Gettysburg wound having broken out again, he was compelled to hand m'er his 
command to (jeneral Hirney. 

General Kershaw commandfd thf Confederate force in front of l>irney, with a bat- 
tery of heavy Parrott guns ca]Hured frt^m liutler at Oriiry's I5liilf. At daylight of the 
27th Miles' brigade, of Harlow's division, got on the Hank of Kershaw, and charged, 
compelling the Confederates to abandon their "Yankee" battery. During the 28th a 
further demonstration was made, when .Sheridan pushed forward with all his sabres and 
drove back the Confederates, but they soon rallied and recovered their ground. 

To further deceive Lee, four hundred empty wagons were ostentatiously sent across 
the pontoon bridge by daylight, to give the impression that a heavy force was advanc- 
ing on Butler's right. In fact, twenty thousand men and four ?jatteries had gone, and 
Lee became so alarmed that he detached several divisions and sent them to the Rich- 
mond side of the James. But during the night of the 29th most of the P'ederal forces 
recrossed the river, and i^repared to support the columns that were massing in front of 
the mine. 

The time set for exploding the mine was half-past three o'clock on the morning of 
July 30. The Ninth Corps had been selected to lead the assault, Leslie's division being 
the first line, with Ferrero's, Willcox's, and Potter's, as the second, third, and fourth. 
The Eighteenth and Second Corps were near at hand, so that they could move up on 
the left or right, as necessity might require. 

Silently and steadily the several corps and divisions marched up and assumed their 
allotted positions. It was an impressive and thrilling scene, filvery order was given in 
a whisper, and the silence grew oppressive. " P'orward," ran the word along the line, 
then the whisper was " Halt." Again and again were these orders repeated, until the 
position of the several divisions had been reached. 

As the light of dawn slowly appeared in the eastern sky every man nerved himself, 
for he knew the supreme moment was rapidly approaching. But the mine did not ex- 
plode in time, for the fuse was imperfect. Two men volunteered to descend and apply 
the match to the break. At five o'clock the ground beneath the feet of the troops sud- 
denly trembled, then there was an awful roar, and a mountain of earth rose in the air, 
accompanied by blinding flashes of light. Then pieces of timber, bodies, and shattered 
limbs of men fell in a dreadful shower. Two hundred Confederate soldiers were blown 
into eternity during those brief ten second.s. 

As the reverberations rolled along the Federal lines one hundred heavy guns and 
mortars opened fire on one common centre. The mine did its work most effectually, for 
a huge gap had been made in Cemetery Ridge, and there was an open gate into the City 
of Petersburg. But for some unexplained reason the assaulting column did not move. 
I' inally. General Le.slie set his men in motion, when some mistaken order was given, and 
they were halted in the crater for nearly an hour. General Ferrero's colored troops were 
close behind, but they could not advance, though under fire. General Burnside was 
then ordered forward with his remaining divisions, when there was another delay. By 
this time the Confederates had recovered from their confusion, and assembled in heavy 
force on either side of the wide chasm. Relentless and maddened, they poured in an 
awful volley of musketry and grape, filling the deep crater with dead and dying Federals. 
There was no escape, no hope, and these men stood there like a flock of sheep until 



562 



TIIF. M/L)fOKfA!. WAR HOOK. 



iH'arly all were kiilril oiilriL;ht oi' i^ricvousl)- wdundcil. (icncral liartlctt, who led the 
change, was taken prlsoiiri-, with most of liis stall, llic mine had lailcd, and li\r thousand 
men wen- lost. I'he next da\ was Sunthiy, and the I'cderals asked lor a tiaur to care for 
iheir wminik-d. Imt it was not arranm'ii until Monday niorniiiL;, ky whith time most of 
the wounded were dead, aiul the corpses of wiiitc .md l)lack soUliers were alike in color. 
No man who witnessed tlu'se awfid scenes can e\er forget them. 

til lU'ral Hutlcr hail coni-eived a jjlan to change the course of the James River by 
cnttin>^- a canal at I )utch t i.i|). riiousamls of coloretl laborers wire thus emi)loyed for 
over two montlis, hut thr project l.iiled. It, howexer, led to considerable li^htini; be- 
tween the armii's and the opjiosin^; ironckuls. ihen ("iranl made another ellort to seize 
llie W eldon Railroad. ( bi the morniuL; ol .August i ^^ the .Second Ciu^ps marched to City 
Point, and with some dispkw, endtarki'd on board transports, which started down the 
river as if i^oin;^ to W ashln::^ton. .\lter niolitlall the transports returned, and the cor])s 
kinded at Meep liottom, beiuL; joined b\- two divisions of the Tenth Corps, and ^ ■ i'«.'i;'ii's 
c.i\alr\ di\ision. .XiUanciuL; tow.ird .Strawberry Plains at ikiylii^ht, the Coniederates 
were driven back, ,ind sh.trp skirmishiui; continued durin<4 that and the lollowln^- ihiy. 
On the loth a hot, shar[) lii^ht occurred near Deep Run, on the Charles City Road, 
Cireii^^' meetins; a Confederate cavalry force under (.ieneral bit/ lluoh Lee. A series of 
anory enoaocnu'nts followed until the igth, when the movement was abandoned, after a 
total loss of live thousand men, the Confederati^s losing- three thousand. Grant had 
now to look .liter a ll.ink mo\ ement made by Lee, who sent I'^arly with a tolerably large 
force into the .Shen.indo.ih \ alle\' to cover the movement of gathering supplies. 




PaTKRSBURG. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR HOOK. 




Batti.k op Mofii 



Copyright, 1HH5, hy L. Pran,^ Is' Co, 



cnAi'ri:i< Lxv. 



ADMIRAL FAkRAOL'TS IJKI I.I.IANT XAVAI, liATTLK IX MOIJII.K HAY. 



For over a year the Federal Government had been anxious to j^ain possession- of 
Mobile, Alabama. After the fall of V'icksburg, General Grant had planned a movement, 
Ijut Rosecranz' defeat at Chickamauga prevented it. When Banks was relieved at New 
Orleans by Canby preparations for attackinj^ Mobile were begun. The City of Mobile 
stands at the head of a large bay, thirty miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and it was an im- 
portant Confederate naval station. Lying in the harbor were several powerful ironclads, 
the largest being the Tennessee, which resembled the famous Merrimac of Hampton 
Roads. She was over two hundred feet in length, her side armor being four inches thick, 
and her decks were covered with two inches of plate iron. .She carried two heavy pivot 
guns and four broadside guns, throwing one hundred and ten pound and ninety-five pound 
projectiles. Farragut's fleet consisted of the wooden ships Brooklyn, Hartford, Rich- 
mond, Lackawanna, Monongahela, Ossipee, ^Jneida, Octorara, Metacomet, Port Royal, 
.Seminole, Kennebec, Itasca, and Galena. To these were added the monitors Tecumseh, 
Winnebago, Manhattan, and Chickasaw. 

Mobile Bay is land-locked by a narrow sandy peninsula, fifteen miles away, terminat- 
ing in Mobile Point. It is also closed in on the west by Dauphin Island and a chain of 
.sand banks, which divide Mi-ssissippi Sound from the Gulf. Dauphin Island is twelve 
miles long, and terminates on the south in Pelican Point. Grant's Pass, to the north of 
Little Dauphin Island, connects Mobile Bay with Mississippi .Sound. The mouth of the 
bay lies between Mobile Point and the eastern end of Dauphin Island, being covered by 



5^4 



11 IF. MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



565 







Sand Island and a scries of sand banks. The southwest 
entrance is called Middle Channel, the southf;astern on' 
beinL( known as Swash Channel. On the wesl(;rn end ol 
Mobile Point stood Fort Morj^^an, manninj^ forty-eit(hi 
guns, while Fort Gaines occupied the eastern end ol 
Dauphin Island, with twenty-one guns. l)f)th had been 
built before the war b\- the United States Government. 
Grant's Pass was guarded by Port Powell. Rows of piles 
obstructed the channels, and the entire harbfjr was thickly 
planted with torpedoes. 

At sunrise of August 5, 1864, General (j ranger's 
land force of twenty-five hundred men disembarked on 
Dauphin's Island, while .\dmiral barragut's Ihet mo\( d 
forward, two abreast and lashed together. In the e-arl\ 
sunlight, and under a cloudless sky, these eighteen Ped- 
eral war vessels started through the entrance to Mobih- 
Bay, a slight southwest breeze gracefully extending each 
ship's ensign. Moving at moderate speed, the im[josing 
squadron reached the main channel, and at a quarter to 
seven o'clock the monitor Tecumseh fired the first shot, 

which was promptly responded to by Fort Morgan. Then the Brooklyn opened fire 
with her large guns, and the action became general, the monitor Tecumseh being sud- 
denly sunk by a torpedo w'hich tore a huge hole in her hull. Captain T. A. M. Craven 
and nearly all of his ol^cers and crew went down with the vessel. Craven had been 
in the navy since 1829, and was a very brave ofificer. 

The Brooklyn's torpedo machinery next became unmanageable, and she got a terri- 
ble pounding from the forts. For the moment it seemed as if the Brooklyn would foul 
the remainder of the fleet, but F"arragut, who was perched half way up the rigging of 
the Hartford, ordered Captain Drayton to push the flagship forward, and signalled the 
fleet to follow. The movement was succe.s.sful, for as the Hartford cleared the Middle 
Channel her broadside partially silenced the guns in P'ort .Morgan. By eight o'clock the 
fleet was sweeping past the fort, and the entrance to the Bay was assured. Admiral 
Franklin Buchanan (who had commanded the Merrimac), approached Farragut with the 
Tennessee. Avoiding the huge Ram, Parragut exchanged a furious broadside with his an- 
tagonist, and proceeded serenely up the Bay. Three Confederate gunboats, the Gaines, 
Selma, and Morgan kept ahead of the Hartford and delivered a destructive raking fire. 
Seeing the necessity forgetting rid of the.se gunboats, Farragut signalled Captain Jouett, 
of the Metacomet, to start after them. In less than an hour the Selma was captured, 
with her officers and crew, while the (iaines and the Morgan were driven to the fort, 
Farragut then brought his ships to anchor, and the crews were piped to breakfast. While 
the men were enjoying their biscuits and hot cocoa, the Admiral, who was still in the 
Hartford shrouds, saw the Tennes.see bearing down on the fleet at astonishing speed. 
Quickly answering their boatswains' whistles and to.ssing their cups of cocoa into the 
.scuppers, the ships' crews prepared to meet their adversary. Admiral Buchanan believed 
his vessel could whip the entire Federal fleet, and he aimed at ramming each in turn and 
sinking them. F'arragut ordered the three remaining monitors to move forward and use 
their rams, while the wooden vessels were to open fire. 

The Monongahela was the first to strike the Tenne.ssee, hitting her on the side, but 
losing her own prow and cut-water by the collision. .Swinging round, the Mononga- 
hela delivered several eleven-inch shot at clo.se range, which had no apparent effect. 



^^ THE MEMORIAL WAR nOOK. 



The Lackawanna was the next to ram, but she had her stem crushed. Seeinor the mis- 
take of rammini,^ at right angles, Farragut now took liis llagship forward, and dealing 
the Tennessee a glancing blow, delivered his port broadside of nine-inch solid shot as 
the sides of the vessels rasped against each other. Yet the Tennessee did not seem to 
be injured, the huge balls Hying off her armor at a tangent. The Inderal licet now 
adopted the Indian method of fighting, for the ships formed a circle, and mo\ing round 
the hu^'-e Confederate ironclad, poured in a trememlous \'wv.. Finall) the nK)nitor Man- 
hattan placed a fifteen-inch solid shot under the stern of the Tennesst'c. 

Farrai'^ut then tried to bring the Hartford into close quarters, but was tUlayed b\- 
coming in collision with the Lackawanna. Being disentangled, the llagship steamed 
toward the Tennessee. By this time the Tennessee's steering chains had been cut, and her 
iiort shutters so jammed they could not be opened, rendering the guns useless, and 
Buchanan had Ix-en severel\- wounded. Before the Hartford reachetl the Tennessee a 
white tla*'' was run up, anil her cajitain went on board the Harttord to surrender his own 
and his admiral's sword. That ended the naval part of the movement, and Mobile Bay 
was won. I'^arragut lost one hundred and sixty-five men killed and drowned, and one 
hundretl wounded. Captain I. R. M. Mullany, of the Oneida, was killetl. The Federal 
and Confederate wountled were sent to Pensacola, where Admiral Buchanan's leg was 
amputated. When the Tecumseh struck the submerged torpedo Captain Craven and 
his pilot were in the pilot house. Seeing that both could not escape. Craven said : "You 
first, pilot." The pilot got through the door, and was saved, but the gallant Craven 
went down with his ship. 

General Granger had lost no time in investing Fort Gaines. Planting a battery of 
heavy Rodman guns, the fort was soon disabled, Anderson surrendering on the 6th. 
Granc-er then transferred his troops to the sandy peninsula behind Fort Morgan, which 
was speedily invested. Everything being ready, Farragut's fleet took con\enient 
position in front of Fort Morgan during the night of August 21, and as the sun's reci 
rays illumined Mobile Bay and threw into strong relief the wide stretches of dazzling 
white sand, the Federal land and naval forces opened Uvii. The scene was thrilling yet 
picturesque, for Farragut's battered vessels lay in a half moon, using every available gun. 
In twenty minutes a bank of hot, white smoke rested on the waters of the ba\- and partial!)' 
hid the fleet, but through this sulphurous mist came vivid flashes of flame, as solid shot 
and loaded shell were launched against the granite walls of the grim, moss-grown fort. 
The narrow sand spit occupied by the troops was also covered with cannon smoke, while 
the cool morning air fairly trembled under the fierce and rapid concussions of the artillery. 

The bombardment continued until late in the afternoon, General Page making a 
feeble replv. About four o'clock it was evident that the fort was on fire, and soon after 
sunset all of the naval and land guns ceased firing. When darkness fell the flames inside 
Fort Morgan cast a ruddy glare across the bay, but at nine o'clock the bombardment was 
renewed until nearly midnight, as the garrison was mastering the fire. At five o'clock 
the next morning every Federal gun again opened, the hail of iron falling for two hours, 
when an officer carrying a white flag emerged from the sally port, and Page niatle an un- 
contlitional surrender. The fort was a complete ruin. Page had thrown ninet\' thou- 
sand pounds of gunpowder into the cisterns, and spiked his guns. The City of Mobile 
and its magnificent bay fell into the possession of the National Government, and another 
blow was struck at blockade runniuir. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK 




chaptp:r lxvi. 



SHERIDAN'S SHENANDOAH CAMPAIGN AND THE liATTEE i)Y WINCHESTER. 



It was General Jubal A. Early's division, of Ewell's co 
David Hunter to retreat from Lynchburg, V^irginia, dur- 
ing the latter part of May, 1864. Hunter had scarcely 
reached the Kanawha region when he found himself 
hampered by the contradictory orders of Secretary 
Stanton. The consequence was all of Hunter's plans 
were upset. When Early felt assured that Lynchburg 
and Lee's rear could not be again threatened by Hunter, 
he united to his own command the infantry division 
under General John C. Breckenridge and the cavalry 
brigades of Generals I. H. Vaughn, B. T. Johnson, John 
McCausland, and J. U. Imboden. With this imposing 
force Early entered the lower Shenandoah Valley. Gen- 
eral Lee, growing restive under the galling fetters Grant 
was throwing around him at Petersburg, determined to 
make a diversion in hopes of loosening the chain, so hi- 
sent Early across the upper Potomac into Maryland and 
seriously threatened Washington. A rapid march enabled 
Early to reach Winchester on July 2, and he occupied 
Martinsburg on the 4th, driving Sigel out of the town on 



rps, that com])cllc(l (General 




08 



THE MEMORIAL MAR BOOK. 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



569 



the same day that Hunter reached Charlesttnvn. The ]\)tc)mac River being- thus open, 
the Confederate general crossed into Maryhuid, and moving over the old Antietam ground, 
passed through the South Mountain gaps to the banks of the Monocacy River. Gen- 
eral Lew Wallace, in command at Baltimore, now found himself cut off from telegraphic 
communication with Washington by the operations of the Confederate cavalry, and Grant 
detached Wright's Sixth Corps and sent it to the relief of the National capital. Rick- 
ett's division reached Wallace at Baltimore in time to oppose Early at jMonocac\' Bridge, 
IjLit the Federals had to retreat after a sharp engagement at Ellicott's Mills. The road 
to Washington being open, Early boldly marched thither, his audacity causing consterna- 
tion among the bureaucrats. But Wright landed with two of his divisions and one 
from the Nineteenth Corps in time to move out to attack Early, who recrossed the Po- 
tomac near Berlin and proceeded to- Leesburg. General Hunter was at Harper's Ferry, 
and Early reached Winchester, followed only by Crook. Early attacked Crook at 
Kernstown, driving him to Martinsburg and Harper's I-'erry. The Confederates then again 




crossed the upper Potomac and began gathering supplies of cattle and grain. General 
McCausland went to Chambersburg, where the cavalry raider summoned the inhabitants 
and demanded the sum of five hundred thousand dollars in cash. It being impossible to 
meet this requisition, McCausland laid the town in ashes, leaving over three thousand 
men, women, and children without food or shelter. 

These depredations roused General Grant to decisive action. Uniting all the troops 
under Hunter, Sigel. Averill, and Crook, and reinforcing them with the Sixth Corps and 
Torbert's cavalry division, he selected General Sheridan to command the little army. 
Sheridan entered on his campaign with vigor, for on August 6 his troops were massing at 
Halltown. just beyond Harper's Ferry. Early was occupying Martinsburg, Williams- 
port, and Shepherdstown, raiding Maryland as far as Hagerstown. On learning that an 
increased Federal force was concentrating near the Ferry, Early recalled his raiding 
parties and prepared for defence. Sheridan had twenty-six thousand men for effective 
work, the Confederate force being about the same strength. Early retreated up the 
Valley, and Sheridan's troops made a leisurely promenade until August 13, when, learn- 
ing that Early was being reinforced to the strength of forty thousand men, " Little Phil " 



570 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




fell back to the line of the Opeciuon Creek. Here 
\\v- received Grover's division of the Nineteenth 
Corps and Wilson's cavalry division, which e(iual- 
ized matters. Grant then instructed .Sheridan to 
drive Early out of the V'alley at whatever cost, 
and strip the Shenandoah and Loudon rey^ion of 
crops, animals, and slaves — in fact, render these 
smiling valleys comparative wastes. 

On September i6 Grant visited .Sheridan, ami 
as the latter had learned that Early's reinforce- 
ments were on their way back to Petersburg a vig- 
orous offensive campaign was decided upon. The 
ne.xt day Sheridan's fort)' thousand men were in 
motion. The cavalr\- (.li\isions ad\anceil from 
Summit Point and over the Berryville Turnpiki-, 
thus threatening both of Early's flanks. The Sixth 
and Nineteenth Corps formed the left and centre 
of the main line, with Crooks' Eighth, or Kanawha 
Corps, on the right. General Averill had already 
driven General Gordon's infantry division out of 
Martinsburg, and Early's whole force now lay before Sheridan along an elevated line, 
two miles east of Winchester town, extending from Abraham's Creek, north, across the 
Berryville Turnpike to some heavy timber on Red Bud Run. 

It was not until noon of September 19 that Sheridan got his troops in shape, the 
Nineteenth Corps being delayed by a confusion of orders. The divisions under Getty 
and Ricketts, accompanied by Wilson's horsemen, made some progress toward Winches- 
ter, on the Senseny Road, but the Confederates quickly assailed, smashing Colonel Keifer's 
small brigade. General Uavid H. Russell's division, of Wright's corps, was then ordered 
forward to drive back Gordon and Rodes. The task was performed, but at hea\ y loss. 
General Russell being killed by a fragment of a shell shattering his head. This heroic 
officer had already received a bullet in his left breast, which would ultimate!)- have 
proved mortal, but he gave no sign, and rode on to receive the shell and a quicker death. 
Fighting now became obstinate all along the line, and the battle of Winchester assumed 
a desperate character. The ground occupied by the opposing armies was an ideal one 
for a general engagement. Wide stretches of wheat stid^ble gave ample scope for the 
movements of large bodies of men, a few scattered clumps ot wooil laml and orchards 
lending picturesque diversity to the landscape. Wherever the eye turneil it could clear!)- 
distinguish the formation of the antagonized lines, marked as they wc-re by rolling clouds 
of smoke from musket and cannon. .\s loaciuin Miller wrote : 



•' And here was the bUie and there the gray, 
And a wide green valley rolled away 
Between where the battling armies lay, 
That sacred Sunday morning." 

By three o'clock Crook's Kanawha Corps and Emory's Nineteenth, supported b) 
Merritt's and Averill's cavalry, reached a desirable position on the Federal right. Though 
the day was now well advanced, Sheridan felt that he had succeeded in flanking Early's 
wings by the advance of his darling cavalry divisions. The sun was beginning to 
descend the sky when Sheridan rode up to a high sugar-loaf sort ot hill in the centre of 
his assumed jjosition. Scarcely had the staft ranged themselves behintl the General than 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 571 

he began to execute a sort of dance in his saddle. Swinging to and fro like a Comanche, 
the General rapidly examined the fiekl before him. Them a few hurried, excited orders 
were given, half a dozen aides started off in various directions at breakneck speed, after 
which Sheridan grew grave and silent. His beautiful horse arched its glossy neck and 
softly whinnied for recognition ; but none came, for the soldier had made his last move 
on the field, and was now waiting for the result. 

In less than twenty minutes the old Sixth Corps moved forward to charge on liarly's 
centre. The movement had scarcely begun when the corps was met by a terrific series 
of musketry volleys, yet the men of the Roman Cross moved steadily over the ground, 
their path being marked by dead and wounded comrades. As soon as Wright's artillery 
opened fire Crook and Emory also moved forward in splendid style. For fully half an 
hour the hot sunshine was rent by the crash of musketry and the roar of artillery, and we 
could see that the Confederates were gradually giving way. At that moment there came 
to our ears the ringing notes of cavalry bugles, on the extreme right and left of Sheridan's 
army. Then the horsemen leaped into their saddles, and there was a sudden Bash as 
thirteen thousand bright sabres kissed the September sunlight. More bugle notes broke 
on the clear, cool air, and the masses began deploying, until there were two distinct lines, 
and the brigade banners went to the front. Even at that distance the sight was an in- 
spiring one, for we knew that an important movement was contemplated. Sheridan had 
discovered that both flanksof Jubal Early's line had been weakened to meet the threatened 
onslaught of the .Sixth Corps, and he had ordered his cavalry to make a sweeping move- 
ment in order to push back the Confederate wings and force them on their centre. 

Then there came to our ears a long, wild cheer as the horsemen began galloping 
over the wide fields, their bright swords still glittering in the sunshine as the weapons 
were waved overhead. On, on they went, the thunder of the horses' hoofs on the soft 
carpet of grass giving token of the tremendous blow about to be struck. On galloped 
jNIerritt and Averill, Custer and Wilson, until the cloud of horses and riders was hidden 
by intervening wood.s. Then the muskets of the .Sixth Corps opened tongue, a vivid 
flash of light broke against the dense woods in which I^larh's men were gathered, and the 
air was rent by an awful, sustained crash of musketry, as thirty thousand men exchanged 
volleys. Pressing steadily forward, Wright's men continued to pour in a deadly fire, and 
the cheer that rose above the roar and racket of the battle told us that the Confederate 
centre had been pierced and was giving way before the terrible impact of the Federal 
line. Scarcely had the Sixth Corps divisions disappeared amid the trees, when the cav- 
alry again appeared in sight, having executed a circular movement, which brought their 
leading scjuadrons fairly on the flanks of the enemy. Then there was another wild cheer, 
and the mounted brigades dashed forward and broke down all opposition. Seeing that 
his troops were carrying everything before them, Sheridan turned around in his saddle to 
his staff, and said in a mild tone : 

" Gentlemen, I think we may now venture to ride forward." 

The turmoil of battle had calmed .Sh(;ridan's explosive temper, and his words had the 
same significance as Napoleon's utterance, "The battle is won." 

The Confederates now retreated in confusion, passing rapidly through Winchester 
to Fisher's Hill, three miles south of .Strasburg, losing three thousand men as prisoners, 
five pieces of artillery, nine battle flags, and four thousand muskets. Three thousand 
Confederate wounded were found in Winchester, Plarly's total loss being over seven 
thousand. General Rodes being among his dead. Sheridan lost five thousand men. This 
battle gave the Federals full possession of the Shenandoah Valley, and they destroyed 
every atom of the garnered wheat and other supplies. This work done, Sheridan pre- 
pared to again attack Early, who still clung to Fisher's Hill. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



CHAPTI-R I.WII. 



Till". HATTLF. OK KlSllKR S IllI.L. 



" Having sent Earl\ whirling throuL;li Winchester," as Sheridan so graphically ex 
pressed it in his despatch lo Secretar\- Stanton, he gave orders for an active pursuit. 
The rear giianl ot the Contederate arnn clean el the streets of the old-fashioned town 
soon after sunset, with Sheridan's advance close on their heels. When night fell, the grass- 
grown cobblestone pavements of Winchester groaned under the weight of ponderous 
ijii-ces of artillery, as they wiMit rumliling through the In'cgular and picturescpie main 
thort)iighfare of the war-ra\'aged town. E\ery siile street and lane was also filled with 
marching infantr\ columns, or the supply trains, so that from dark to dawn the ne.xt 
morning the inhabitants were kept awake by the rattle and rumble of wheels, the sharp 
crack of artillery whips, the angry oaths of excited teamsters, the murmur of many 
voices, and the inufHed, mysterious tread of armed men. Accompanying all these 
strange and confused sounds there came to the ear the muttering of distant musketry, 
fre(|U(-ntly pinicluated 1)\- tlull cannonading, while shrill bugle calls, rapidly repeated, told 
th.ii the victorious army was closely pressing its foe. When the sun rose on the follow. 
ing morning the streets ol Winchester contained onl\- a few straggling Federal soldiers 
and wagons, the former being swept forward by the tireless provost guards. 

General Torbert, who commanded Sheridan's cavalry, sent Averill's division along 
the Hack Roatl leatling to Cedar Creek, while Merritt's division moxed up the \'alley 
Turnpike toward Strasburg, Wilson's division ailvancing on l-'ront Royal by way of 
Stevensburg. At daylight of September 20 the infantry pushed forward, the Sixth and 
Nineteenth Corps marching abreast in the open country to the right and left of the pike, 
Crook's Kanawha Corps following closely in their rear. Early's forces presented no op- 
position until Torbert's cavalry discovered 
them posted on Fisher's Hill, a position of 
great natural strength. Early's line extended 
in a westerly direction across the Strasburg 
X'alle}-, his right resting on the North Fork 
of the Shenandoah River, while his left ex- 
tended to Little North Mountain. Sheridan 
made no effort to dislodge Earh, but after the 
Sixth Corps came u]) Wright went to the west 
of the \'alle\- Pike, overlooking -Strasburg, 
Emory taking position on his left, toward 
the Front Ro)al Road. Crook came up soon 
after sunset, and formed line in some heavy 
timber on the north bank of Cedar Creek. 

The vallev where Farh now made his 
stand is only three anil a half miles wide, for 
it is pinched just there by the Massanutten 
Range and Little North Mountain. The 
Confederate general had in August con- 
structetl a heav\ line of earthworks all along 
the precipitous bluff which overhangs Tum- 
bling Run, and his men were busih' employed 




THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



573 




in strengthening them when the Federals came in sight. So 
secure did Early consider himself that his ammunition 
chests were lifted from the caissons and placed behind the 
breastworks for convenience. General Wharton, who now 
commanded Breckenridge's division, held the right of the 
Confederate line, Gordon's division stood ne.xt, with Pegram, 
now commanding Ramseur's old division, on his left. Gen- 
eral Ramseur had taken Rodes' division and occupied the 
left, with Lomax's cavalry acting as foot troops, extending 
the line to the Back Road. General Pitz Hugh Lee having 
been wounded at Winchester, the Confederate cavalry was 
now commanded by General Wickham, and he had gone to 
Milford to prevent Fisher's Hill from being turned through 
the Luray Valley. Both armies remained quiet during 
that night, though the pickets were tolerably active. 

Knowing that a direct assault would entail terrible 
loss and be of doubtful result, Sheridan resolved to use 

a turning column against Early's left. On September 21, Crook being still concealed in 
the timber north of Cedar Creek, Wright and Emory moved up closer to the Con- 
federate works, the Sixth Corps succeeding in gaining some high ground on the 
right of the Mannassas Gap Railroad and confronting the point where Early had 
massed most of his artillery. Then an elevated position on the north side of 
Tumbling Run was carried, Sheridan thus gaining commanding ground for his 
batteries. The Sixth Corps was now seven hundred yards from the Confederate lines. 
During that night Crook's corps crossed Cedar Creek and took position in some heavy 
woods behind Hupp's Hill. At daylight of the 22d Crook marched under cover of 
intervening ravines and woods beyond the right of the Sixth Corps, being again con- 
cealed by some timber not far from the Back Road. As soon as Crook had accomplished 
his task Ricketts' division was pushed out until it faced the extreme left of Early's 
infantry line. 

This movement being discovered by the Confederate signal men posted on Three Top 
Mountain, Early prepared for an attack at that point. This was what Sheridan had been 
aiming at, and while Ricketts was occupying the attention of the Confederate left. 
Crook marched his men south in two parallel columns into the dense timber on the east- 
ern face of Little North Mountain, until he gained the rear of Early's works, when, mov- 
ing by the left flank, he led his command in an easterly direction down the mountain side. 
As Crook left the timber he was met by an artillery fire, but the Kanawha Corps rushed 
across the broken ground and threw the Confederate left into great confusion as Ricketts 
was swinging his division round, the whole force taking the works in reverse. Then 
Early's left gave way, and all of Sheridan's line swung round, the Confederates retreat- 
in"- in disorder, abandoning sixteen field pieces and all the ammunition in the works. 

Early retreated through Woodstock, Sheridan's advance reaching the town during 
that night. Sheridan's pursuit was untiring, and he drove Early back day after day, 
through Newmarket and Harrisonburg. Early next fell back to Port Republic, thence to 
Brown's Gap, in the Blue Ridge, some fifteen miles southeast of Harrisonburg, and held 
the Gap, despite several attempts to dislodge him. Sheridan, finding Early so strongly 
intrenched at Brown's Gap, did not dare to advance on L>nchburg, for his own commu- 
nications were in peril, and the guerillas, under Mosby and White, were cutting off Fed- 
eral trains and stragglers all through the Shenandoah Valley. One of these bands mur- 
dered Lieutenant John Meigs, who was General Sheridan's chief engineer. For this act 



574 



THE MEMORIAL WAR EOOK. 



Sheridan retaliated by burninij every house within five miles of the scene of the tragetiy. 
Every s|>y that was caught suffered death by order of a drum head court-martial. On 
October 6 Sheridan marched northward, destroying all the ha\-, grain, and forage iJKit 
was not consumeil li\' his own army. He put the torch to over two thousand harns, 
tilled with grain, and seventy-five mills, capturing several thousand sheep and cattle. 
The Lurav, Little I'^ork, and Shenandoah X'alleys, from the Blue Ridge to the North 
Mountain, down to the Potomac River, were thus rendered untenable for a Confederate 
armv. As Sheridan fell back toward Cedar Creek he was clo.sely followed by Early. 
t)n October 15 General Sheridan was summoned to Washington for consultation. Dur- 
ing his brief absence the entire success of his really brilliant campaign came near being- 
overthrown. 




THE MEMORIAL Wy\R JIUUK. 



575 




CHAP'ri-:k i,xvni. 



THK liATTI-K OK ( KDAK CKKKK AM) SIIKKI 1)A N S I-AMOCS M\\)V, 



While I'ishcr's Hill was a ^ood position for resisting an army moving up the Valley, 
it presented no advantage to Sheridan, now that Early was following him in the opposite 
direction. He therefore- placed his army on rolling and rising ground along the eastern 
bank of Cedar Creek, the Sixth Corps occupying the right ; the Nineteenth the centre, 
and the Kighth Federal the left. The line was five miles long, and Sheridan considered it 
strongly placed, as Crook's left rested on the North I'"ork of the Shenandoah River, and 
Wright held the Middle Road and some high ridges. Having made the customary pro- 
visions for protecting his flanks and rear. General Sheridan obeyed Halleck's summons, 
leaving General Wright in temporary command. While passing through the mountains 
Sheridan received from Wright a copy of a message from Lon^ i :! -'> Karly, telling 
him to be ready to smash the Federal forces when their two corp 

The conference between Stanton, Halleck, and Sheridan w 
upsetting the paper plans of the bureau general. lieing nervou.. ';.■ '>ii,i • li.e 
of his army, Sheridan asked for a special train for Martinsburg, on the uppei • 
Leaving Martinsburg on the morning of October i8, .Sheridan rode over the Valley Pike 
to Winchester, a distance of twenty-eight miles. There he received word that all was 
quiet on the front, and that one of Grover's brigades was to make a reconnoissance the 
next morning. So the General went to his bed, being exhausted by his three days' jour- 
ney. Irregular firing was reported on October 19, but Sheridan supposed that it was 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Grover's reconnoissance, and he did not start until after nine o'clock. In the meantime 
Early had planned a most brilliant movement. St-nding his light artilkT) and cavalry to 
make a demonstration against the Federal right, he formed his infantry into five columns, 
three of which, untler Generals Ramseur, Pegram. and Gortlon, were sent to jjlaci- them- 
selves on the left rear of Sheridan's army. The other two columns, under Kershaw and 
Wharton, were to get in front of Crook. The flanking columns had to pass through a 
gorge at the foot of Massanutten Mountain, ford the North Fork of the Shenandoah 
River, and pass round Crook's line. Starting at sunset of October i8, Gordon, Ramseur, 
and Pegram accomplished their task, and at ilaybreak of the 19th their line stood within 
si.\ hundred yards of the Federal camps. Before the cool autumnal mists were dispersed 
by the rising sun, Kershaw made an assault on Crook, which was a complete surprise, 
the flanking line also advancing. General Crook lost some eight or ten guns and eight 
hundred men in fifteen minutes, and the Nineteenth Corps was next threatened. Though 
enveloped by the attacking force, General ICmory held his ground for an hour, when he 
was compelled to give way with the loss of more artillery and men. The -Si.xth Corps, 
under temporary command of General Ricketts, now crossed to the left, and checked the 
Confederate movement, giving opportunity for Crook and Emory to reform their lines. 
The battle was resumed at nine o'clock. General Wright trying to regain his old positions, 
but he was gradually forced back nearly three miles, to the \illage of Middletown, hav- 
ing lost his camps and earthworks, eighteen hundred men, and twenty-four cannon. 

All this time Sheridan was riding toward the battletieUl. Before he was an hour on 
the road he learned that a disaster had occurred, but it was not until he reached New- 
town that the full e.xtent of the repulse was realized. The roads were choked with 
u'agons, as the teamsters applied their whips to avoid capture, while a line of wounded 
men streaming to the rear attested the severity of the engagement. Sheridan found 
Getty's division about a mile north of Middletown, under command of General Louis A. 
Grant, General Getty having taken charge of the Sixth Corps, General Ricketts being 
badly wounded. Among the officers in this division was Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes, 
acting as a brigade commander. He became President of the United States in 1877. 
General Wright then came up, his uniform coat saturated with blood that flowed from a 
wound in his chin where a musket ball had cut it. 

Sending Wright to resume command of his corps and ordering Getty to his division, 
Sheridan began forming a new line, the news of his arrival restoring confidence, and the 

men voluntarily began returning, to their commands. 

It is only just to General Wright to say that he had 
restored order before Sheridan arrived, and as one of the 
disinterested spectators of this memorable battle, the 
writer has no hesitation in expressing the belief that Wright 
would have gained a victory over Early without Sheridan. 
1 his fact, however, does not detract anything from Sheri- 
dan's fame. 

The line being formed, .Sheridan rode along it, being 
received with cheers by his troops. At three o'clock Sher- 
iilan gave the following order: "The entire line will ad- 
vance. The Nineteenth Corps will move in connection 
with the Sixth. The right of the Nineteenth will swing to 
the left, so as to drive the enemy upon the pike." 

This order was obeyed with promptness, the whole line 
moving forward in perfect uni.son and splendid shape. The 
charge was led bv Gettv's division, with Custer's antl 




COLONEL RLTHERF 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



577 



Merritt's cavalry coverinj^^ the flanks. Scarcely had the imposing movcnu'nt begun, when 
the Confederates opened a terrific artillery and musketry fire, which temporarily checked 
the Sixth Corps. Then Emory swung- his line round and made two distinct and success- 
ful charges, which disordered Early's lines and threw them back. At the same time 
Torbert's cavalry division struck the Confederate flank and doubled it up. The tide was 
now turning, but Earlj's troops fought with desperation, the battle assuming a sangui- 
nary character. 

Pushing steadily forward. Generals Wright, Crook, Emory, and Torb'Tt pressed 
back the Confederate line, until it finally broke in confusion, wdien the Federal move- 
ment grew into a pursuit. All of the captured cannon were recovered, and Early was not 
able to halt until he had passed through Strasburg ami reached Fisher's Hill. That 
night the Federal corps rested in their old camps, leaving the cavalry to harass Early, 
who continued his retreat southward during October 20 and 21, abandoning all further 
effort to regain the Valley. During his entire Shenandoah campaign Sheridan lost six- 
teen thousand men. Early's loss was ten thousand men killed and wounded, and thirteen 
thousand taken prisoners. General Ramseur was mortally wounded at the battle of 
Cedar Creek, and died the following day at .Sheridan's headquarters. As a reward for 
his gallantry and success, .Sheridan was made a Major-General in the Regular Army. 
Colonels Hayes and Hamblin became Brigadiers of Volunteers. The Sixth Corps was 
subsequently transferred to Petersburg, and Sheridan's forces went into winter cjuarters. 




Majok-CJenekal a. D. McCook and Staf 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




(;i.M iM. I- s 



Hit at Ctiv I'l.isi. Makch, 1S65. 



rHAPTI'R LXIX. 



ACnVK orKRA'IKi.NS IX IKiiNTdl' KKIIMdMi AM) I'KTK RSCU R( ; 



W hfii news of Sherit: 




an's victor)- at Winchester reached General Grant at City 
I'oint, he at once set the Armies of 
the Potomac ami the [amesat work, 
in order to [;re\ent (General Let- 
sending reinforcements to Plarh'. 
At dayliivht of September 21 every 
cannon and mortar in the Federal 
lines opened a furious antl rapid 
tire. Prom Deep liottom. north of 
the lames River, Lo the Jerusalem 
I'lank Road, in front of Petersburg, 
a ilistance of twenty-one miles, there 
wi-re o\er three hundred Dahlgren, 
Rodman, and Parrott rifled cannon 
engagetl. With these were one hun- 
dred Ijrass field guns and nearh' as 
nian\' witle-mouthed mortars. Prom 
early tlawn until sunset was this 
lerrilile bombardment maintained, 
and all of the larger guns were kept 
busy during the entire night. Lee's 
gunners maile a \igorous response, 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



579 



so that during these terrible twenty-four hours there were nearly eight hundred pieces 
of artillery engaged. The detonations were so rapid and so deafening that it seemed 
as if fifty thunderstorms had come together. A hot, white mist clung to the war-scarred 
fields. Through the dense masses of smoke bright flashes sprung forth, followed by 
sullen roars. During that night scarce!)' a man slept more than an hour, for the con- 
cussions filled the air and shook the ground. Fresh men were ordered forward the 
next morning to relieve the exhausted artillerists, and the fusilade was maintained with 
the same vigor and fury for another day and night. During these forty-eight hours 
over fift)--seven thousand shells were delivered, while the Confederates threw full)- 
thirt)'-five thousand. 

Long before daylight of .September 22 the .Second and iMftli Corps were moving to 




the extreme left of Meade's intrenched line, their path being illuminated by the cannon 
Hashes and bursting shells. So swiftly did these corps move that at daylight they struck 
the Weldon Road. The assault was so sudden that the Confederate fc . .cati. ;. 
taken after one voile)', and the coveted railroad was in Federal pc session 
extending his line of circumvallation nearly three miles to the left. I 
succeeded in extending its investing lines. 

On September 15 General Wade Hampton's four brigades of cavalry and two light 
batteries had marched rapidly around Meade's left, and sei'zed a large herd of cattle at Syca- 
more Church, near Coggin's Point, on the James. It was a brilliant exploit and revict- 
ualed the Confederate army. On September 28, the Tenth and Eighteenth Army Corps 
moved from the right of Butler's line to Aiken's Landing, advancing over the Varina 



TUr. MEMORIAL WAR R^OOK. 




Si«CE OK Pbtbrsbibi-., V; 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



581 



Road. At Chapin's Farm the I'^'derals found a fort tlankcd hy well-constructed cur- 
tains. The Eighteenth Corps dashed forward and succt'eded in capturing Fort Har- 
rison with sixteen large guns and two hundred prisoners. The Confederate gunboats 
and the forts on the opposite side of the James made the position untenable, and it was 
abandoned. Meanwhile the Tenth Corps crossed Four Mile Creek and attacked the 
Confederates at New Market Hi;ights, Paine's colored division making a charge. The 
Federals were, however, handsomely repulsed, with a loss of fifteen hundred men, chiefly 
negroes. General Birney then marched toward Richmond, reaching Launl Hill, where 
Fort Gilmer stood. Here another sharp fight occurred, but the Federals were compelled 
to retreat. General Kautz' cavalry succeeding, however, in getting within sight of the 
spires of Richmond. On -September 30 a large force of Confederates attacked ()rd and 




Birney, when a fierce engagement ensued, lasting from two o'clock to sundown. The 
burden of loss fell on Lee's troops. 

These movements having drawn a large force from Lee's right, the Second Corps and 
two divisions each from the b'ifth and Ninth Corps were sent, on September :o, under 
command of General Warren, across the W'eldon Railroad, at Four Mile Sl i|- 

fin's, Ayres', Willco.x's, and Potter's divisions moved toward Poplar Grove, c h 

Side Railroad, striking the Squirrel Level Road, and reached Peeble's Farm, tour miies 
southwest of Petersburg. A general engagement followed, as the Confederates poured 
out of Petersburg to resist this movement. They succeeded in breaking through the 
P'ederal line between the Fifth and Ninth Corps, sweeping up fifteen hundred prisoners 
from Potter's division. Warren held his ground, however, and sent Mott's division to- 
ward the Boydton Plank Road, which was used as a wagon supply route by Lee. Mott 
found it amply protected, and retired. 



582 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Mt-ndol-d 



ueivofOijnhoat faster 'ptiUtKino ^ 







V . y,„,.04«'' 



• Kan3d5 



U. S. Gunboats in James River. 



THE M EMU RIAL WAR BOOK. 



583 



The untiring energy of Grant caused another movement by Hullcr on October i, 
when Terry's division and Kautz' cavalry made a reconnoissance along the 1 )arbytown 
and Charles Cit\' Roads, Init there was no other profitable result. On Octobi-r 7 the Con- 
federate cavalr\- struck Kautz' brigatles, under Spear and West, on the Charles City 
Road, five miles from Richmond, and made so sudden an attack that the I'edcral horse- 
men were routed, losing all their batteries. Fighting then began all along the lines, the 
Confederate infantry being finally driven back. Having kept Lee so busy, Grant gave 
his troops a resting spell. 

Receiving news of -Sheridan's victory at Cedar Creek, Grant gave secret orders for a 
general movement, wdiich he hoped would lead to the capture of Peterslnirg and th(; fall 
of Richmond. P2very horse was re-shod, the interior corduroy roatls across swamps 




mended, and all the batteries and infantr)' received fresh ammunition, the army being 
stripped of impedimenta. At two o'clock in the morning of October 27 the entire army 
began its march. Hancock and Gregg were to make a wide detour toward Reams' Sta- 
tion and get on the Boydton Plank Road, a feat they succeeded in accomplishing. 
Warren went over the .Squirrel Level Road, while Parkes led his Ninth Corps toward 
Hatcher's Run. The Fifth and Xinth Corps were to attack the Hatcher's Run fortifi- 
cations and form connection with the .Second. Hancock's corps, accompanied by Gregg's 
cavalry, reached the Boydton Plank Road at noon, finding the Confederates waiting 
behind formidable intrenchments. .Sharp fighting ensued, but it was not until Warren's 
guns were heard that Hancock prepared for serious work. Before Warren could come 
up, Mahone's division managed to get between him and Hancock, when the Confederate 
General swept round Hancock's right. A prolonged battle followed, Mahone being 
finally compelled to withdraw. The movement, as a whole, was a failure, though Meade's 



5S4 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



permanent line was a mile longer. The return of the I'"ederal troops to their intrench- 
ments was made during- the day and night of October 28, over muddy roads and in a 
heavy storm of rain, leaving nearh' all their wounded behind for lack of transportation. 

This endetl the nKuncuvres of both the Arm)- of the Potomac and the Arni\- of the 
James for nearly two months, though the work of the siege was maintained with unceas- 
in--- severity and duration. Week after week, during every hour of the day and night, 
the air was filled with shells from siege cannon and mortars, the roar of the opposing 
guns deafening the ear, while the rattle of musketry formed the monotone of the might}- 
orchestra of war. Grant's line was twenty-five miles long, but the forts, curtains_ 
approaches, and parallels multiplied this line to over ninety miles of intrenchnients. 




CONFEDHRATE FoRT MaHONE (c 



THE Soldiers "Fort Damnation"-). 



Fort Hell and I'ort Damnation, as the soldiers called them, on either side of the Jerusa- 
lem Plank Roati, were the nearest to the City of Petersburg. P'run-i their casements the 
movements of Confederate soldiers in the streets of the beleaguered city were distinctly 
A-isible. The guns of these two advanced forts were never silent, the garrisons being 
constantly changed, in order that the men might endure the fatigue. Even along the 
curtains that connected the principal forts there were cannon and huge, wide-mouthed 
mortars, while little barking coehorns lay concealed iri conNcnient pits. The pickets went 
in every evening with one hundred and fifty rounds of ball cartridge.s, and few men 
returned, on being relieved at the end of twenty-four hours, with more than a dozen car- 
tridges in their pouches. So deadl\- was the fire that these I'ederal and Confetlerate 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



S»5 



marksmen discharged their pieces from narrow openings in the breastworks, which were 
so filled with lead that whenever a truce happened the soldiers used to dio- them out 
with their fingers. 

Siege duty is both tiresome and exacting, for the troops have to dwell in bomb- 
proof or deep ditches, and these are unhealthy and depressing. To sleep in burrows at 
night, with the boom of cannon constantly assailing the dormant ear, and pass the day- 
light hours listening to the sudden crashes of musketry, the roar of huge siecre o-uns, the 
shriek of rified shells, and watch for the occasional plunge of mortar bombs in the paral- 
lels and approaches, is very exciting at first, but these sights and sounds become weari- 
some in their monotony. Men can endure this sort of this thing for a week or two, but 
then the)' must be relieved, for human nature can no longer stand the strain. It is this 
fact that explains why beleaguered armies are usually conquered ; for to them theriMS no 
relief from the exposure from solid shot, shells, and bomb.s. Then, too, their lines of 
outer communication are constantly being cut, which decreases the supplies of food and 
ammunition, so that the men grow weary, disheartened, and often mutinous. 

But while Meade and Butler were thus simply clinging to Lee's throat and exhaust- 
ing his effective strength, General Sherman was busv in the State of Georyia. 




5cS6 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




CHAPTER l.XX. 



GEXFKAI. MIKRMAN S MAKi 11 Id TllK SKA. 

The coniliiiH'il iirnrR's under General Sherm.m la\ in aiul .iround Atlanta until Octo- 
ber, 1864, iiKun of the rei;iments returninijf home, as their term of service had expired. 
The remaining; troops were consolidated and reorganized, ecpiippeil and clothed, for 
another campaign. The eftective strength of .Sherman's army was then reduced to 
about si.xty thousand nun. 

General Hood was retained in the command of the Confederate troops, and he 
reorganized his arni\- until he mustered forty thousand men. It was then decided that 
Hood should march north of .\tlanta. tear u]) the railroad hetwei-n Chattanooga and the 
Chattahoochee Ri\er, and on reaching Bridgepjrt, destro\' the huge bridge iner the Ten- 
nessee River. This wouKl si-ver the communications bet ween .\tlantaand Chattanooga, 
and cut off Chattanooga from Nashville. bOrrest's ca\ airy was alread\- at work in Ten- 
nessee, and committing considerable havoc. HchhI's three corps were commanded b\' 
Generals Cheatham, S. D. Lee, and Stewart, with (".eiieral Wheeler at the lu-ad of an 
increased cavalry force. Moving westward toward the Chattahinichee, the Confederates 
faced Sherman, covering the West Point Railroad near Palmetto .Station. Throwing a 
pontoon bridge across the Chattahoochee, Hood sent ca\alry to Carrollton ami Powder 
Springs, his entire force crossing the river on October j. and marching towartl Dallas, 
thus threatening Kingston and Rome, and all the Federal fortified positions on the rail- 
road. Hood captured Big .Shanty and Ackworth .Stations, destroying the railroad and 
telegraph. General S. U. French's division then starti-d for .Mlatoona Pass, where Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Tourtellotte, one of Sherman's aides, was guarding the railroad and two 
millions of F"ederal rations with three regiments. 

General Sherman was prompt in moving against Hood, his main body crossing the 
Chattahoochee River on October 4, and reached Marietta and Kenesaw the following 
day. General John ^L Corse was ordered to march from Rome to Tourtellotte's assist- 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



5«7 



ancc. ;in(l he rcachcil Allaloona I'ass in time to rc]nilsc Im-cikIi. hcinjr himself badly 
wounded in the head. Sherman stood on the Icjp (jf Kenesavv Mountain, and saw the 
smoke of thc^ battle in the I'ass. The fight was a severe one, for Colonel Redfiekl, of 
the Thirty-ninth Iowa, was killed, and Colonel Tourtellotte received a ball through his 
hijjs. I'rench was finally repulsed, losing nearly two thousand men. 

Discovering that Hood was still moving westward, .Sherman pushed on to Kingston, 
going through Allatoona Pass, reaching the town on October lo. Hood had gone beyond 
Rome, and was crossing the Coosa River. Sherman then sent (ieneral Cox with the 
Twenty-third Corps and ( iarrard's ca\-alr\- (n\ision across the ()f)stenaula Riv(-r to 
threaten Ho(jd's flank. On()(tolier 12 Hood appcand bifore Resaca with St('wart's 
corjjs, and demanded Ctdonel Weaver's uncomh'tional surrender, promising the garrison 




of si.\ hundred immediate parole, adding that if he was compelled to make an assault he 
would kill every man. Cfdonel Weaver had (jn!\- three cannon, but his repl)- to Hood 
was, ■■ If \ ou want Resaca. come and take it. " I he Confederates skirmished for a day, 
and then marched on as far as Tunnel Hill. 

No decided engagement occurred during the remainder of October, Hood retreat- 
ing into northern Alabama, where he came under the direction of General Beauregard, 
vvho was commanding the Confederate Military Division of the West. Then, for the first 
time, General .Sherman announced his purpose of marching through Georgia to the .sea- 
coast, a movement General Grant had finally approved of. On October 19 Sherman 
telegraphed to Halleck that he intemled to push into the heart of Georgia and come out 
at Savannah, destroying all the railroads of the .State. 

The Confederates were now at Decatur, Alabama, and Sherman realized that Hood 
had really escaped from him, so he decided to leave General Thomas, then at Nashville, 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




Savannah, Ga 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



589 



to fight Hood, and sent him General Schofield's Twenty-third Corps, and (icncral Stan- 
ley's Fourth Corps. Thomas had now forty-fivM- ihousantl men and an iiid<[)(iidciu com- 
mand, while Sherman prepared for his tlarling project. 

On November 2 Sherman's forces consisted of the hOnrtecnth, I'iftecnth, Seven- 
teenth, and rwenti(;th Arm\- Cor])s, wilji one di\ Ision of ca\ah-\-. Ilaving repaired the 
railroads and telegraph lines, he sent his sick and wounded h)' rail to Chattanooga, 
packed all his wagons, and deliheralely prepared for the march to Savannah, three; hun- 
dred miles from Atlanta. All extra suppliers, stores, and m.u hinery at emiiidaleil at 
Atlanta were sent to Chattanooga, and (ieneral Corse was ordered to destroy all the foun- 
dries, shops, mills, warehouses, and bridges at Rome, and join the army. The last train 
left Atlanta during the night of November 11, and on the i2lh Sherman tele-graphed 




three words to Thomas : " All is well." Then the wires were cut and .Sherman's concen- 
trated army stood alone, all its lines of communication being severed. None but men in 
full health remained, the official reports showing an aggregate of fifty-five thousand 
three hundred and twenty-nine infantr\', five thousand and sixty-three cavalry, and eigh- 
teen hundred and twelve artillery — in all, si.\ty-two thousand two hundred and four ofifi- 
cers and men. Only sixty-five pieces of artillery were taken, and the smallest possible 
number of wagons (twenty-five hundred), the horses and mules being carefully selected. 
At that time General Hood was occupying both banks of the Tennessee River, collect- 
ing ammunition and supplies from Mobile, Selma, and Montgomery for his projected inva- 
sion of the State of Tennessee. Beauregard was at Corinth. Thomas remained at Nashville, 
watching Hood. Sherman's march did not begin until November 15, the right wing going 



590 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



toward JonesbDro, the left marching eastward toward Madis(Mi, via Decatur and Stone 
Mountain, thus threatenin.ij both Augusta aiul Maton. As the cokimns left Atlanta the 
I'cderal engineers applied their torches to the tlepot. round-house, and machine shops of 
the Georgia Railroad. A large quantit\ i)f Confederate anmiunilion in one of the shops 
exploded, and the (lames were extended to the business ])arl ol the cit\. Stores, ware- 
iiouses, hotels, mills, and factories were thus consumed in rai)id succession, with many 
private dwellings, so that in all o\er two thousand Iniildlngs were destroyed, tin- aggre- 
<i-ate value of the sacrificed property amounting to more than three millions of tlollars. 
It was amid the fierce heat and roar of the uncontrolled flames, and listening to the ter- 
rific fusilade of bursting shells among the heaped up ammunition, that Sherman and his 
rear ^'-uard rode out of the fair but doomed City of Atlanta on the afternoon of Novem- 
ber i6. Behind the General was a thick, ominous cloud, in Iront his entire ami)- was march- 




ing, they knew not where. The most curious feature of this strange movement was the 
absolute secrecy maintained regarding its ultimate destination. As the\- trotted over the 
soft dirt roads Sherman's men believed that they were going to Richmond. 

Sherman's rear guard consisted of the Fourteenth Corps, and it marched as far as 
Lithonia, near Stone Mountain, a mighty mass of granite, where the command bivouacked 
for the night. The sky was lighted up by the fires of Howard's men as they destroyed 
the railroaels, and for several weeks the arm)'s path was marked by flames at night and 
black clouds of smoke in the daytime. The following da\- Sherman passeil through 
Covington, the Fourteenth Corps marching in solid column, with unfurled colors, to the 
music of the bands, bivouacking on the banks of the picturesque Ulcofauhachee River. 
Turning to the right, Sherman guided his own column to Milledgeville, via Shady Dale. 
General Slocum was ahead at Madison, the Twentieth Corps having torn up the rail, 
road, and General Geary's division had marched to the Oconee River and burneil all the 
bridges. General Howard's Fifteenth Corps encountered Iverson's Confederate cavalr)- 
at Jonesboro, but they were soon dispersed by Kil[)atrick's horsemen, when the columns 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 591 



moved eastward throuj^di McDonoug-h and Jackson to the Ocmulg-ee River, crossing at 
Planter's Mills, and passing southward through Monticello and Hillsboro, finally striking 
the ("leorgia Central Railroad at (iortlon, twent)- miles east of Macon. Kilpatrick then 
swept round on the right, through Ciriffin and Forsyth, towards Macon, finding Wheeler 
there with a small body of cavalry and several brigades of militia. 

On November 20 two of Kilpatrick's regiments and a light battcr\- madr a feint on 
East Macon, driving the Confederates inside their breastworks, the bederal cavalr\- with- 
drawing to (iriswoldxille, after destroying the railroad east of Walnut Creek, a similar 
work being performed b\- the b'ifteenth and .Seventeenth Corps as far as Gordon. Then 
a severe engagement took place. Walcott's brigade, with part of a battery, and a few 
squadrons of cavalry, was covering the right flank of the b'ifteenth Corps, arriving at 
Griswoldville on November 22. liurning the princijial Ijuildings in the town, Walcott 
postetl his men in a wooil behind a swamp and threw up a Ijreastwork. Ceneral Ander- 
son, with fi\e thousaml men, mo\ed out of Macon, ami charged W alcott's line si.\ times, 
being repulsed with feartul slaughter, for the Confederates had to flounder through a 
swamp, exposed to a heav)' hre. Anderson was se\ereh' wounded, and the Confederates 
left three hundred men dead on the field. .So far Wheeler had supposed that the cap- 
ture of Macon was Sherman's principal object, but as all the railroad connections 
had been destroyed the Federal troops marched to the right and left, leaving Wheeler to 
his own devices. 

The Georgia Legislature was in session in Milledgeville, Init on .Sherman's approach 
the members fied to Augusta. A part of a brigade entered the State capital and pro- 
ceeded to destroy the magazines, depots, arsenals, factories, and storehouses, with other 
government property, including two thousand bales of cotton. Two or three hundred 
Federal prisoners were released from the penitentiar)-, antl three thousand muskets cap- 
tured. While Slocum's wing was resting near Milledge\-ille, Howard advanced eastward 
along the Georgia Central Railroad, destro)"ing it as far as Tennills Station. Seeing 
that Macon was not threatened, Wheeler crossed the Oconee River, and prepared to 
resist the Federal passage. On Xoxember 2}, Howard struck General Wayne's militia, 
and entered into a skirmish, while his main force moved eight miles down the river, and 
crossed on a pontoon bridge. Wayne then retreated, and Howard's command continued 
its work of destro\'ing the railroad. 

One of the features of .Sherman's movement was the celerity displa)ed in collecting 
supplies. Each brigade commander detailed a force of fift\- men under a commissioned 
officer, and these parties visited every plantation within live miles of the route of march. 
Procuring a wagon or a family carriage, these men would gather up bacon, chickens, corn, 
meal, turkeys, ducks, hams — in fact, anything in the shape of food, liesides ample supplies 
of forage for the cavalry. 

For so extended and rapid a march as .Sherman contemplated pontoon trains were 
absolutely necessary. These pontoons were of the skeleton pattern, covered with cotton 
canvas, each boat with its balks and chesses filling a wagon. Two sections would furnish 
a bridge eighteen hundred feet long, but the advanced brigades frequenth' constructed 
timber bridges before the pontoons could come to the front. 

Pressing forward, Howard and Slocum reached Sandersville on November 25, their 
progress being delayed by finding the bridges across Buffalo Creek all destroyed, for 
Wheeler had now grasped the scope of the Federal movement, and his active cavalry 
were doing all they could to impede .Sherman. Poinding that the Confederate General 
-was proving himself a serious obstacle, .Sherman directed Kilpatrick to leave his wagons 
with Slocum and advance on Augusta, and accommodate Wheeler with the battle he evi- 
dently desired. Taking Baird's division of the Fourteenth Corps, General Kilpatrick 



593 



7HF. MEMORIAL WAR R^OOK. 



procooiloil with his oiitiiv mount<.Hl loivo to \V.iynt>slioro. arriviii,-; tht'iT on Dooemhcr > 
Whoi'irr's force was fouiul at Thomas' Station, aiul Unx ni hi\ulK>n>; tlutuii^h \\a\ luslioro 
aiui across Hrit-r Cn-ok. tho iH-ilrrals Iniriiiiii;- thr luiilm's. Two il.i\s attir Kili>airiik 
ivjoiiUHl Slocum at |acksoiil>oro. twtMU\ iniKs cast ot Millcii. 

Tho l-'ourtiHMith Corps crossnl tin- Oocoiluc Kivrr at I'cnii's l>ridi^r o\\ Xoxinilur 
JO. aiul. niarchini;- aloiiy its northi-rii bank, ontircd l.ouis\illr. rurnins^ lastwanl at 
lUickhcail Crci-k. thr corps procccilcil \o Lumpkin's Station. <.^\\ llu- Anj^usta and Millcn 
Railroail. which was ilcstrovcil witli si-vcral milcsof track. Ww l-ittccnth ami St-wntccnth 
Corps passcil alon^ the sontli side of tiic r.iih-o.ul, while tiie I wcntii-tii destroyed rail- 
rtiads anil puMic property as f.ir .is P.u isl>oro St.nion. Tlir C)>;rechee ha\ ino- In-en left 
behinil. the I'ederal columns were now headetl lor S.n anii.di. the teint against Aui^usta 
leading the Confederates to mass their troops there, thus leaving- Savannah unprotected. 
Hut. though their feehle .uMiiy had been outmantvm red, the citizens of Cieor^ia turned 
out. and skilled ,»\emen felled tri'es .icri>ss all the ro.uls at ditticult points, and burned all 
the l>ridv;es. The necessity for removing or overcoming thi-sc obstructions dela\ed 
Sherman's army, but did not change its projected route, and the vicinity of Savannah 
was reached on Oecember ~. 

While Sherman's men were thus adxancin^ o\erl.\iul. Ceiier.d hosier and Admiral 
Uahliiren were operating- a^^ainst Savannah from Hilton lle.ul. The city was ilefended 
bv fifteen thousand men. under ("leneral Hardie. his princip.d work biin^^ I'ort McAllis- 
ter, mountino- twentv-three lar^e L;uns. The heileral .iniiy in\ esteil Sa\ .mnah. Inn made 
no assault until Oecember 13. when Ceneral Hazen's division attackeil l-\^rt McAllister 
and captured it after a brief strui^i^le. General Hardie declined to surrender, but when 
Kilpatrick destroyed the Ciulf Railroad, and Dahl^ren ilispersed the Confederate fleet, he 
withdrew with his i^arrison to Charleston on Pecember jo. Ceneral Sherman enteretl 
Savannah the next day. coming into possession of one thousand prisoners, one hundred 
and fiftv pieces of artillery, thirteen locc^motives, two hundred cars, tour steamboats, and 
thirtv-three thousand bales of cotton, besides vast quantities of military stores, deneral 
dearv was appoint(.-d military commander of the city, and onler was at once restored. 

Thus ended the famous March to the Sea. 
Ihiriui; ti\e consecutive weeks sl\t\-two ihoii- 
s.uid men .uul twenl\' thous.md horsvs aiul mules 
marched three hundred miles, their path bein<;' 
from twenty to si.xty miles in width. Flu' .irnn^ 
captured twentx' million pounds ot corn and 
fodder, three million rations ot bread and meat. 
one million rations of coflee and su^ar. Three 
hundred and tilt\ miles ot r.iilro.ul track were 
destroyed, thus .mnihikiting the Confederate 
army communic.itions, while the aggregate value 
of property destroyed is estimated by Cieneral 
."Sherman, at over one hundred millions of dollars, 
rhe Federal losses iluring the campaign were 
sixtv-three men killed on the field, two humlreil 
and forty-five wouniled. .uul two hundred and 
tiftv-nine missing. The (.onti-ileracy was now 
cut fairly into two. .md .mother step toward 
endiuL- the Ci\ il \\ ar had been taken. 




nil: Mh.MOKIAI. [\'y\l< HOOK. 



593 



CIIAI'I IJ< I.XXI. 



HIK AWMIII.AriDN Ol- l|()(i|,s AKMV liV r.\:.S\M\\. IMOMAS, 



Events occurred in ra];id succession in the Soiilli vv<:sl durinj^ tlie closin;^ months of 
1S64. While- Sherman was cutting loose from Atlanta, (ieneral I'orrest made a raid 
along the I'ennessee River, capturing Athens and its garrison, I-'orre-st committed much 
havoc, despite the efforts of the Federal cavalry, Oenerals Rousseau, VV^ashhurne, <^iran- 
t((-r, and Morgan. 1 homas, learning that lloodaimed at invading Middle Tennessee, 
started out to meet him. Another large force of Confe-derate trooj<s, under <'i<-n<:rn\ 
Price, moved toward Missouri, reaching Pilot Knoh on September 2.3. fi<n'ral Hugh 
S. Kwing was in command of the garrison, having fourteen hr.-avy guns, I'rice was 
driven i;ack on the 27th after a most desperate assault, losing one thousand me-n. Hut 
the Confederates gained complete possession of Shephf:rd .Mountain, which compelled 
I'Lwing to evacuate Pilot Knob, (Jeneral Rosecranz, who was at .St, Louis, j^n-pare-fl to 
meet Price by throwing forwar<l various commands, under (ienerals Pleasanton, A, J, 
Smith, Brown, O'SftW, .Sanborn, and Fisk, which prevented Price approaching the city, 
so he contented himself with destroying all prop(;rty that came in his way. There were 
several battles, the most important being at VVestport, near th(; Big Blue River, when 
Pleasonton and Curtis cajjtured Price's camp and nearly all of his plunder, the Confeder- 
ates escaping into Western Arkansas. Price made a stand at P'ayetteville, but he was 
ignominiously defeated and his force scattered, lie had destroyed [property valued at 
three millions of dollars and seized a vast quantity of supplies, but in his retreat from 
Newtonia five thousand men deserted him, and he lost nearly all his artillery and wagons. 
Soon after this General .Morgan, the famous Confederate commander of irre-gular cav- 
alry, was surprised by General Gillem in ICast Tennessee, and killed, Breckenridge 
attacked Gillem on November 13, near Knoxville, the result being that the Frrderals 
were routed and lost six guns, seventy wagons, <;ighteen colors, many men and supplie.s, 
the remnant finding shelter in Knoxville. General Stoneman was then ordered into 
East Tennessee by Thomas. With Gillem's and Burbridge's commands he drove Breck- 
enridge helter-skelter through Bristol, across the north 
fork of the Holston River. During his movement 
Stoneman captured twenty field guns, one thousand 
j^risoners, ten thousand hf;ad of cattle and hogs, with 
hundreds of wagons and mule teams. He also de- 
stroyed the extensive lead works at Wytheville, and 
the Confederate salt machinery at .Saltville, and other 
property valued at over four millions of dollars. Had 
the war lasted much longer the Confederate territory 
would have become a barren waste. 

Hood now .sent Forrest from Corinth, with nine 
thousand horses and ten mounted batteries, to the 
Tennessee River, On November 2 Forrest appeared 
before Fort Heiman, where he captured a Federal gun- 
boat and four steamers, I-'orrest then retired before 
Schofield, who was advancing. Hood and Thomas 
were now fairly confronted. The Confederate general 
had sixty thousand men, while Thomas could onlv mus- 




594 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



ter thirty thousand. It was not until November 19 that Hood crossed the Tennessee River. 
Thomas meanwhile gathering up ten thousand additional men. General Schofield then 
fell back on Columbia. Thomas' other corps moving to the Duck River crossings. On 
November 25 the Confederates threatened the crossings, and there was considerable 
fiirhting. Hood made a bold attack on Schofield at Franklin, his troops moving for^vard 
in'long'massive lines. As Cheatham's and Stewart's corps advanced they encountered a 
stead)* and merciless artillery and musketry fire, but though the lines were shattered, 
they were not checked. Cheatham and Stewart finally succeeded, after a bloody battle, 
in capturing the Federal breastworks. General Stanley made a counter-charge with 




CAriTOL, N.\SHV1LLE. TAK 



Soldiers watching the Fight. 



Opdyke's brigade, which broke the Confederate line and drove it back, the Federals 
recapturing their works and lost cannon. Three times did Hood renew the fight, but he 
was repulsed over and over again, until night put a stop to the struggle. Generals 
Stanley and Bradley were wounded, and General Opdyke was the hero of the battle. 
Hood lost si.\ thousand men ; Schofield twenty-three hundred. Hood had thirteen gen- 
erals killed, wounded, or captured. 

Thomas now concentrated his army at Nashville, having fifty-six thousand men at 
his command. Hood appeared on December 4. but no fighting occurred for ten days, 
though some of Thomas' communications were cut. Grant became alarmed at the 
apparent delay, and gave Thomas positive orders to fight Hood at once. But George 
H. Thomas would never move until he was ready, being of stubborn mind. Aiming to 
strike Hood heavily on the right, with a strong feint on his left, Thomas sent his several 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



595 



cavalry divisions, under Steadman, Wilson, Wheeler, and Johnson, during the nio-ht of 
December 14, over the Nolensville, Hillsboro and Harding Turnpikes, Johnson ridin^ 
down to engage the fort at Ball's Landing, on the Cumberland River. Wilson's divis- 
ion opened the battle at daylight, driving the Confederates across Richland Creek and 
capturing a redoubt, when Schofield's corps became the right winf^ Wood's Fourth 
Corps being the left. These dispositions occupied the forenoon, but at one o'clock, the 
Fourth Corps assaulted Montgomery Hill, carrying it in fine style, capturing eight pieces 
of artillery and two battle Hags. The Confederates, however, clung to the base of the 
Harpeth Hills, protecting the Granny White and Franklin Turnpikes. Schofield and 
Smith then engaged, and Hood was forced back at every point, losing during the day 
sixteen cannon, his loss in killed, wounded, and missing being very heavy. 




At nightfall Thomas ordered his troops to bivouack in line of battle, and at six o'clock 
of the i6th all of his corps pressed forward. Wood seized the Franklin Turnpike and 
advanced as far as Overton's Hill. Holding Schofield fast, Thomas then moved Smith 
in between the Twenty-third and Fourth Corps, which gave him an advantageous front 
toward the South. The assault on Overton's Hill was met by a strong force drawn 
from Hood's left and centre. Wood's corps pushed up the hill in face of a terrific fire of 
musketry, grape, and canister, until near the crest, when the Confederate reserves ran 
forward and delivered so destructive a volley that the Fourth Corps was broken and 
retired, leaving their dead and wounded. While Wood was reforming Schofield and 
Smith charged on their respective fronts, capturing all of the Confederate artillery and 
two thousand prisoners, among them four generals. At the same time Wilson seized 
the Granny White Turnpike, thus closing one of Hood's lines of retreat. Wood's infantry 
and Steedman's horsemen again assaulted Overton's Hill, carrying it so suddenly that 



; y, /■///•■ }rr.yoKJ.\i wak pook. 

thf Coiikdtralcs lost all ol their artilKrx , ovlt two ihoiisaiiil nu-n iH'Coiv.iiio prisoners. 
Wooil pursiH'd the ll\ ini; oohimiis to Breiitwooil Pass, halting at dark. Hatch's aiul 
Knipe's oavalrv divisions .scattered Chalnier's horsemen on the (."iranny White Turnpike, 
takinij many prisoners, amonj;- them Cieneral Rucker. l>iirinL; these two tlays Thomas 
took fortv-hve luimired nu-n as prisoners, oi whom nearly thrte hundred were officers, 
til'tv-tlirec ficKl j^uns. and over si.\ thousand muskets. Hood leti three thousand deail 
and wounded on the ijround. Ihe I'ederal loss was three thmisand. 

Ihomas took up the pursuit at ilayli^ht. his ailvance tindino llooil's rear ^uard at 
Hollow Tree Liap, lour miles north of l-'ranklin. Ihe Confederates fell hack on Frank- 
lin, onlv to meet Johnson's cavalry cominy up on the south side of the Harpetli River, 
which compelled Hooil to retire toward ColumMa. IHirinj^- the night of Hecemher 17 
Hood escaped across the llarpeth. and w.is on tlie other side ol Huck Ri\er h\ the jjd. 
The weather was ver\ cold. Init Thomas maintained his pursuit most relentlessly. 
Hood's men were disheartened, ragi^ed. and barefooted, the conscripts deserting or sur- 
rendering. Thomas chased Hood to the Tennessee River, hnding cannon, caissons, 
wagons, and small arms scattered along the roads, and thirteen thousand men were taken 
prisoners. Hood's army was practically annihilated, and on nocember 30 Thomas went 
into winter tpiarters. Hood took his shattered army to Tupelo. Mississippi, and was 
relieved by his own request, retiring from active service minus the arm he lost at Gettys- 
Inirg and the leg he left at Chickamauga. 







THE MEMORIAL WAR IUH)K. 



9)7 




CI I. \ PI' 



.XXII. 



cAi'iTki'; (M' smiiiKKx si:.\i'MRi! 



I III', lAM, 



II- MiK-r Msiii;i;. 



January, 1S65, found Shcrnian sllll aL Savannah, (iraiU al I'di-rslair;,', ami Tlionias 
on th(- Tennessee River. .Sht:rman het^an overrunnliitr tiie Carolinas, sending Howard 
]))• sea from Savannah to I?eaufort, when he seized the Charl(;ston Railroad at I'cjcolalii^o. 
l'^nL,^ai4'enients occurred on the line of tin- Salkahatcliii-, ('on^arce, and I'.disto Rivers, 
Howard and Slocuni niarchiiiL;' to ( olundiia, on ihe Saluda Ri\i-r. W'adi- iiam])ton had 
already destro)-e(l ten thousand hales of cotton l)\- selliuL^ them on lire in the streets, the 
consequence heinL,^ th(^ destruction of the business part ol the city, despite the efforts f)f 
the Federals to save it. The fall of C'oluinhia occurred 011 l'"(-hruary 1 2, Charlestfjn 
beinj,^ surrt-ndered the followim;' da)', I lardee destroyine the railroad buildings and an 
imm(-ns(' (|uantit\- of rice before evacuatiiiL;. While the women and children were 
gathering' the rice, two hundred kcL^s of i^ainpowder caught hre and exjdoded, killiiit^f two 
hundred persons, nearl)- one thousand more beini^r injure<l. I he cit\' was in ruins, and 
the population had fallen to tin thousand, '{'.ikinj^ possession on l''ebruar\- 18, General 
(iillmore secured nearly ti\c hu mired cannon and ccMisiderable railroad |jroperty. The 
surrender took place e.\actl\- four y(;ars after the inauj^niration of Jefferson Davis as the 
Confederate Presidi:nt. 'I'he\- had been four Ncars of sufTerinj,'- and horror for the entire 
country. T\mi tatteretl llae lowered b\- .Major Robert Anderson in 1S61 was hoisted by 
the (jeneral on the- fourth anni\-ersar)' of his humiliation. 

General .Sherman went on marchint^ throutrji the Carolinas, destroyinj^ railroads, 
Ijridges, and public propert). i'lame and smoke marked every step of his arm)' along 
the Inroad, Catawba, Cheraw, Wateree, Pedee, and Cape Fear Rivers. There was con- 
stant fighting, but no pitched battles until March 14, when Hardee crossed the Cape 



598 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



Fear on his way to join Johnston's army with the Cohnr.liia aiul CharU-ston orarrisons ami 
Cheatham's corps. The fii,'ht tliat msueil was sharp ami tU'cisive, th- Confederates being; 
lompelleil to retreat, only to he attacked the following- day at .\viM-yshoro, when they 
were a^-ain drivi-n back. Another eni,'-ai:^ement occurred at Hentonvillc. on ilie (.".oldsboro 
Roati, when )oe |ohnston made a desperate effort to win a decided victory. The Con- 
federates maile six desperate charges with their whole force, but as they had very little 
artillery, the ik'feat was a crushing- one. This battle pi ued Slurman finally on the line 
of communication betwei-n Richmond and the Cari)lin<is. 

Durini"- Sherman's nuni-menls a successful attack was made on borl bisher. which 
commanded the northwest channel of the Cape b'ear River and the approach to Wil- 
mington, the haven of blockade runners. In December, 1864, Admiral Porter and Gen- 
i r.d Butler made an attempt, but owino- to a hurricane which scatteretl the bederal 




fleet and a disagreement between the naval and arm_\- commanders it iaileil. Cieneral 
Alfred H. Terry was then placed in command of the troops, and a new ettort was made. 
Arriving off New Inlet on January 12, Terry landed with eight thousand nun. behind 
Fort Fisher, cutting it off from reinforcement, Porter's fleet raining- fifty thousand shells 
on the fort, making several breaches. Meet Captain K. R. Breeze landed on the beach 
with fifteen hundred sailors and marines, while Ames' division was to attack un the land 



The combined assault occurred during the afternoon of januar_\- 15. Breeze's force 
was beaten back, and Ames had to pause after a hand-to-hand fight of two hours, but 
secured a permanent hold at nightfall, the battle only ending at nine o'clock, deneral 
Whitney was severely wounded before he surrendered, and on the Federal side General 
Bell was killed. Generals Curtis and Pennybacker being wounded. The Confederates 
destroyed their other forts, and the approaches to Wilmington were free. General 
Schofield's corps was then transferred from Tennessee to the sea coast by steamboat and 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



599 



rail, via Wasliini^rlon and Alexandria, arriviii:^'' on T'chruary <■)■ Afl'-r some severe fij^ht- 
in;^, 'I'crry and Schofield ca|)lnrcd WilniinL^toii on the 22(1. 

The end of the war had now hcconie onl\- a (jiieslion of week^. I he Confederate 
armies in the South and Southwest were ijroken or dispersed, while Grant's grasp on 
Lee's lines could not be shaken off. iJesertion '^xvwi epidemic, supplies were exhausted, 
and the Confederacy was crumbling to pieces. ,\l i'eictrsinirg the siege operations were 
conducted with vigor, several engagements taking ])lac(% (tach one wc^akening Lee's 
brave army. The Dutch (iap Canal was a failure, but the Confederate; gunboats could 
do nothing. Hancock assumed command in the Sh<-nandoah, leaving .Sheridan free to 
make a raid around Richmond ami join (/rant in the siege lines. The cavalry General 
started on February 27, and arrived ;it I'eiersbm'g on March 24, having destroyed every- 
thinLf in his path. 




"/lyri^ht. /^J6, liy /., I'ran,; L-' Co. 



Lee having determined to abandon Richmond and Petersburg and attempt a junc- 
tion with Joe Johnston, who was elbowing his way northward, a diversion was made on 
Meade's line at Fort Steadman. The movement took place at dawn of March 25, and 
though of a desperate character, it failed in its purpose. The day proved a memorable 
one, for while flags of truce were flying on Meade's right for the removal of the Con- 
federate dead, President Lincoln was reviewing the Fifth Corps in the centre, and the 
Second Corps was briskly fighting on the left. Thus the strange spectacle was presented 
of a truce, a review, and a battle in the lines of one army. General Sherman arrived at 
City Point on March 27, when President Lincoln urged him and Grant to put an end to 
the terrible sacrifice of human life. The two Generals told Lincoln that one more battle 
would close the war, but neither knew whether it would occur in Virginia or the Caro- 
linas. Sherman returned to his army the following day. 



6oo 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 







Cny OK Rkhmonii.Va.- Ruins ok State Aksenai. and View down James Rr 



CHAPTER I.XXIII. 



KATri.K OF i-lVl--. 11 IKK 



AM) IIIK 1-AI.I. nl'- KM UNKiXli AMi I'KTKRSIir RH. 



Grant now srl his columns in motion to intercL'pt Lee. Cicncral Ord, who had suc- 
cceduil HutliT in command ol the Arm_\- of the James, crossed the James during' thi- 
night of March 27 with one tlixision ot the Twenty-fifth Corps, two divisions oi the 
Iwenty-fourth Corps, ami a division ot cavalr\, to occupy the left of Meade's line. 1 hus 
relie\ed, the Second antl I'ilth Corps started, on March 29, across Rowant\' Creek and 
liatcher's Run, striking- the Contederates on the White ( )ak Road and (juickh' drixin^- 
ihem hack. Slu-ritlan's entire ca\'alr)' corps luul meanwhile reached Oinwidtlie Court 
Mouse, so that Crant's ami)- line then e.xtendi-d from Dinwiddle to the Appomatto.x 
River, a distance of thirt\-tive miles. ly-norant that Cirant's ri^ht was \ ery weak, Lee 
prepared to meet the expected Mow on his own ri^ht. 

Considerable fighting occurreil during the next two days, the Confederates being 
unable to break the Federal line, though the\' inllicted a hea\},- blow on the bifth Corps. 
Sheridan had seized b'ive I'orks, but Lee sent Pickett and Pushrod b'biison against him. 
They soon drove the Federal cavalry in confusion to Dinwiddle Court House, but were, 
after another severe fight, compelled to retreat in turn, (iranl sent Warren to .Sheri- 
dan's assistance, but the P'ifth Corps was delayed at CravelK Run by being compelled 
to rebuild the bridge, so it was long after midnight when .\\ res, who had \\\v. ail\ ance, 
could cross and march for Dinwiddle. .\t daxlight of .\pril 1 .Slu-ridan mo\id his iMitire 
force toward l'"i\e P~orks, having been joined b\- Warnii with his remaining divisions. 
By four o'clock in the afternoon the I'ifth Corps was read\ , the second and thirtl divis- 
ions forming the front line, with the first in reserve. They were posted on the White 



THE MEMORIAL WAR HOOK. 60 1 



Oak Road and faced a strong line of Confederate breastworks concealed by a dense 
mass of young pines. Both Ayres and Crawford met a severe musketry fire, as their 
men pushed forward through the dense undergrowth, which cut down the leading ranks 
in a terrible way. Crawford obliqued to his right to gain a ridge, which movement 
created a gap between him and Ayres. Seeing this, Griffin rushed forward with the 
first division, and the entire corps made a headlong charge, seizing the salient point of 
the Confederate breastworks and capturing three thousand prisoners. As soon as War- 
ren's artillery opened, the cavalry advanced, but met with a vigorous resistance, which 
temporarily threw them into confusion. 

The engagement now became a general one, all along the opposing lines, Lee's men 
fighting with bitter and despairing courage. Warren rode to the front and gallantly led 
his men in a brilliant, heroic charge. The onslaught proved too much for the Con- 
federates, for their line shook, and the Federals carried the works and captured fully one- 
half of Picketts' and Johnson's divisions. Warren had his horse shot under him, and 
escaped probably a fatal wound by the devotion of Colonel Richardson, who covered 
him, being severely wounded in the act. The Confederates, retreating in confusion, were 
pursued by Merritt's and McKenzie's horsemen, until they reached Lee's main line. The 
Confederates lost one thousand men killed and wounded, besides five thousand more 
who became prisoners. The P'ederals also captured eight pieces of artillery and fifteen 
regimental colors, losing less than one thousand men. 

The battle being won. General .Sheridan committed an act which has tarnished his 
reputation, for he relieved General Warren on the field and placed General George Grif- 
fin in command of the corps. His excuse was that Warren had been dilatory in his 
movement toward Uinwiddie. The records of history, however, show that General 
Warren did his whole duty. 

The disaster at Five Forks was an awful blow to General Lee, for his right flank 
had been turned, placing a large force of Federal infantry in his rear. He saw that a 
retreat was the only course left open. Lee had about forty-five thousand men when 
Gordon made his despairing assault on Fort Steadman in March, the losses attending 
that desperate movement and at Five Forks reducing his strength to about thirty-eight 
thousand. Defeat and annihilation stared him in the face. 

News of Sheridan's victory reached Grant at eight o'clock on the evening of April 
I, and in less than an hour the entire artillery force in the trenches before Petersburg 
opened a tremendous cannonading, which continued until dawn of the following morn- 
ing, .Sunday. As the guns slackened in the rosy sunrise, the Ninth and .Sixth Corps 
rushed forward. Parke carried the outer line before Petersburg, Wright swept over the 
Boydton Plank Road intrenchments, and Ord captured the Hatcher's Run breastworks, 
while Humphreys, Sheridan, and Griffin seized the South .Side Railroad. On the other 
side of the James, Gibbons endeavored to take Forts Gregg and Alexander, but was 
repulsed by Longstreet with heavy loss. But the entire movement had so tightened 
the investing line around Petersburg that its evacuation could not be delayed any longer. 

General Longstreet now joined Lee, and the Confederate army was massed. .Send- 
ing Heth's division of A. P. Hill's corpa to retake a part of the line captured by Parke's 
corps, a desperate battle took place, Parke succeeding in holding his position with 
the aid of the City Point garrison, which hurried up in the nick of time. During this 
movement General Ambrose Powell Hill rode forward, accompanied by an orderly. In 
a ravine he encountered a few Federal soldiers who fired, and Hill dropped dead from 
his saddle. 

After Heth's repulse Lee telegraphed to Jefferson Davis that his lines were broken 
in three places, and suggested the evacuation of Richmond. The Confederate President 



fX)2 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 




CiTV OF PbTBRSBUKG— V'lEWS TAKEN APKIL, 1S65, IMMEUIATBLV AFTER CaiTI' 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



603 



received the messaj^'-e in church, and the minister announced from the |)ul|)it that Gen- 
eral Kwell desired the troops to assemble at tliree o'clock that afternoon. The j'resi- 
dent and his Cal)inet, the members of the Confederate? Conj^ress, and the State Lej^dsla- 
ture had departed by nine o'clock that ni_t,dit, with man)- of the citizens. A dreadfid 
scene of confusion ensued, the City Council ordered all spirituous Hquors to be poured 
into the L;utters, and a mob took possession of the city. At three o'clock on Monday 
morning Ceneral Ewell ordered all the warelunises to be set on tin', th(- llames soon leap- 
ing beyond control, until thirt_\- scjuares were ablazt:, consuming over one thousand build- 
ings. The drunken mob liberated the penitentiary prisoners and set fire to the prison. 
A magazine that had been overlooked exploded with a fearful concussion, which increased 
the destruction and appalled the inhabitants, the air being rent soon after wh(-n two iron- 
clads were blown up just below Richmond. After four long and weary years of bloody 
war the beautiful city of Richmond lay in luiins. General Weitzel took pt^ssession soon 
after sunrise; with part of the T\vent\'-fourth Corfjs, and restored order, the Federal sol- 
diers extinguishing the flames. One thousand ])risoners, five thousand sick and 
wounded, five hundred siege and field guns, thirty loconuHives, and three hundred rail- 
road cars fell into the hands of the Federals. 

At daylight of that memorable Monday morning Lee evacuated Petersburg, G(;n- 
eral Parke entering the city about nine o'clock, finding the streets almost deserted, for 
most of the inhabitants had moved away during the long and exhausting siege. 







City op Richmond, Va., after Camtulation. Ac ril, 1865, 



THE MhMORIM. \VM< HOOK. 




i,- Pontoon Bmoo_ - , 

ACROSS „ 

jAMESRiVEfV. 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



605 




CHAPTER LXXIV. 



THF. KIXAI. SlRKKMiKK OF TIIK (ONFKDKRATK ARMIES. 



On k^avint^r Petersburg; Lee concentrated his shattered cokimns at Chesterfield Court 
House, and then marched to the west, intending to reach Burkesville, fifty-two miles 
from Petersburg. There he hoped to gain the Danville Railroad, burn the bridges, and 
join [oe Jtjhnston. The General had ordered a quarter of a million of rations to be for- 
warded from Danville to Amelia Court House. When his army arrived there it was 
learned that the supply train had been ordered to Richmond, the officer in command 
obeying without unloading his supplies. This cruel blow, inflicted as it was by the Con- 
federate government, was all the harder to bear, for it decided the fate of the Army of 
Xorthern Virginia. 

The Federal pursuit was relentless. .Sheridan's cavalry went to Jettersville, on the 
Danville Railroad, which placed him on Lee's line of retreat. The .Second and Si.xth 
Corps reached Jettersville on the morning of April 5, while General Ord moved on to 
Wilson's .Station, and the Twenty-fourth Corps went to Burkesville. At Paine's Crossing 
General Davies' cavalry brigade captured and destroyed two hundred wagons, after 
defeating a body of Confederate horse and seizing their artillery. 

General Meade returned the P'ifth Corps to his army, leaving Sheridan to look after 
his cavalry corps. Meade was very ill at the time, but he remained at the head of his 
troops to prevent .Sheridan being given the chief command. It would weary the reader 
to describe in detail the movements that followed, but mention must be made of an 
affair at Farmville, as it shows that the fighting was hard and bitter to the very end. 



,^-,6 THE MEMORIAL WAR POOK. 



I)c<?iroiis of destroyin,cr the bridi^^es across the Appomattox River. General 0\\\ sent for- 
ward two reijiments and a cavalry sciuailron undrr (ieneral Thomas Rrad. Hclorc- he 
reached l""armville Read struck the advance' of Lee'sarmy, and was at once overwhelmed. 
Read's men fou^'ht desperately miiil their C.eneral »vas killed in a personal t-ond).it with 
(ieneral Hearing, when they broke in confusion. Dearin^' sa\ cil the l>ridi;es, and was 
intrenched when Ord came \\y with his corps. 

Sheridan caui^ht a Confederate suppl\- train at .Sailor's Creek, and. after a hoi lii^ht, 
ca])tured four hundred \va_t,rons, sixteen cannon, and most of the yuartl. lly this move- 
ment General Hwell's corps and a part of Pickett's di\ ision was separated Irom Lee's 
main force. The Sixth Corps arrived in time to see the burning- wagons and Sheridan's 
troopers char^in>;- all around Hwell. The Confederate's found themselves hemmed in, 
i)ut for two hours this heroic rt'mnant of a heroic arm\ foui^ht with the energy of de- 
spair, oiviiii^ blow for blow, anil tearing- wide rents in (".eneral Wri^'ht's line, b'inally the 
contest became' so uneupial that further resistance was madness, and six thous.uul men 
threw down their muskets and surrendered. General b'.well and lour ol his di\ ision 
and bri}.i-aile conun.uulers shared the fate of their men. The b'ede'rals lost erne thousand 
nn'n, killeel and wtnmdeel ; the Confederates nearly fifteen hundreil. 

C.eneral Himiphreys and the Second Corps also captured a supply train and some 
artillery, following Lee's rear >;uard so closeK' as it crossed the .\ppomattox that the 
Confeilerales could not destroy the wai^on bridge. The suffi-rin^s of the .\rmy of North- 
ern \'iri;inia had now niched a staj^e when further emlurance was impossible. Lee's 
o-enerals consulted during- the niy;ht of April ;, and advised their commantler to surren- 
der. The next day a correspondence was opened between Generals Grant and Lee. 

Where\er the b'ederals struck the Confederate lines a ti.i;'hl occurre'd. ('lener-d 
Harlow eU'Stro\ed e)\-er one huhdre'd wasjjons beyonel l'arm\ille, and Humphreys t4a\-e 
battle soon after. Miles' di\isie)n made a bold attack, but was dri\en back. General 
Smyth being amono- the b'ederal killed. Gn the Sth of .\pril Le'e was comi)letel\- sur- 
rounded, every avenue of escape being covered and guariled. Gut ol lorty-ti\ e thmisanil 
men who were under arms in \L\rch, Lee now had about twenty-eight thousand lell, his 
brave dead lying in heaps along the route of his awful retreat. b'inally hemmi'el in at 
Appomattox Court House, Lee made one last effort, for he ordered t.onhui to cut his 
■way through the Federal ca\alry. Weak as was Cnu-don's line, it w.is gaining grounel 
when Ord came up and setlleil llu- (]uestion. just as Shrridan's bugli'S were beginning 
their clamor for a charge Cieneral Gordon sent a dag of truce to General Custer, asJ<ing 
for an armistice. The two historic armies never more exchanged another shot. 

\\\ a heav\ fog (.".eneral Lee' left his camp fire, wdiere he' had passed the night with 
Long-street and Mahone'. By i)re'ce)ncerted arrangement the' Cemfederate general was 
met and conducted te> the' McLe-an house, in Apjiomatteix Court 1 louse. 1 lere' he- tounel 
General Grant awaiting him. The terms of surreneler we're' that all ottice'rs and nu'U we're 
to be paroled, the officers retaining their swords anel baggage-. W lun the actual sur- 
render took place, on April 12, there were only eight thousand men to pass through the 
painful ceremony of laying down their arms, the remaining eleven thousand ha\ing 
avoided the humiliation by throwing aside their muskets eluring the' last hours e)l the- 
retreat. Having signed the terms. General Lee returned to his nun aiul baele them iare- 
we'U. The scene that ensue-d was a me)st painful one. rhre)nging arennul the officer 
who had led them through so many campaigns, these Confeilerate veterans we'])t like- 
children as they tried to reach his hand. Lee finally broke down, and saying, ■" Men, 
we have fought through the war together, I ha\e eleine- the- best I coukl te)r \e)u," he 
rode away a broken-hearted man. 

On the night of A[)ril 14 President Lincoln was assassinateel in b'ord's llu'atre, 



THE MIIMOKIAI. WAR DOOK. 



607 



Washincjton. by John Wilkes Booth, an ac l..r and a Secessionist. Th.- ihcaclful ( laiiie 
was a terrible; endiny^ to a tcrril)l(; war, and thoii^h It was intended to avcn-c the Sontli, 
Lincohi's inurch-r roused so much sectional and pohlica! passion that the South sulTered 
adchtional iiuh^nity. Uootli was shot dead in a barn, twenty miles from l''rederi( ksburj.,^ 
and se\'eral persons, amom;- tliem a woman Mrs. .Surrall were excMiitcd as ( on spiralors 
in the plot to kill \'ice-Prcsidenl (ohnson and Secretary Seward. 

The news of Lee's surrender and I -incoln's assasination reached Sherman whih- his 
arm\- was marchinu- to join ('.rant. /Xltersome correspondence, (General Joe Johnston 
surrentlertnl on April 2O, iu:ar Durham's Station, with thirty-live thousand men. The 
terms ,<,Tanted by Sherman were considered unwise, for it was not a formal siirr<-nd<-r, 
and the National yovernincnl refused to sanction the memorandum. hinallv tin- t<i-ms 




Forb's Theatre PLACE of assas-^'nat 



occupiEi) BY rnt 
President, at tiieof 
a&sassinatcon. 



TlIK A-^SASSINATION Of Pi 



were modified to conform with those formulated by Grant at Appomattox Court House. 
Wade Hampton escaped with his cavalry, but his command finally fell to pieces. Gen- 
eral Taylor surrendered his Mississippi ( ommand at Citronella, Alabama, on Ma\- 4, and 
Admiral Thatcher surrendered his na\ al vessels in the Tombij/bee River at the same 
time. President iJavis was captured on .Ma\' 10, and was kept a prisoner for some time 
at P'ortress Monroe on the char^u- of treason, but was finally released without trial. Vice- 
President .Stephens was also made prisoner, and passed several months in confinement 
at P'ort Warren, Boston Harbor. fJn May 11 (ieneral Jefferson Thompson surrendered, 
with nearly ei^ht thousand men, at Chalk Hluff, in Arkansas, but General Kirby Smith 
held out in Te.Kas. A battle occurred on the Rio Grande-, near Brazoo .Santiago, on 
May 1 3, between a P'ederal force commanded b\- Colon(-I Th(_-fjdore H. Barrett, and a 
stronj^ body of Confederates under General Slaui,diter. It ended in a P'ederal victory, 



loS 



THE MliMORIAI. WAR ROOK. 



aiul tlu-n Kirln Siniih aliaiuloiud liis troops and escaped. Icavintj Gcin ral line kiur to 
assunu' tin- coininaml ami siirri'inlcr, as hr liatl done at I'ort Honclsoii w Inn tleserted I)y 
l"l()\d. riu' war t"inall\- (.■mU-d on May 2b, luivin<,'- lasted Imir years aiul forty-two days, 
rile stalisties ol this tremendous Ci\il War are lioili eolossal ami astoumlini;. 
|)urin^' the entire perioil of hostilities then- were nuistrrcd inio the service ol the 
I'nitetl States, as soldiers ami sailors, of all ranks, two million ei^ht hundred anil ninety- 
six ihoiisami five hundred ami thirly-se\en men ; the Conietleracy hail one million six 
luimlred and thirteen thousaml two hundred and thirty-four — an aij^j^regate of four mil- 
lion five hundred and nine thousand seven hundred and seventy-one combatants. Therr 
were killed in action seventv-three thousand four hundred and ciohty-six l-"ederals, and 




Funeral . . 

■KMHSnVANIA 

Washington:' 



tilt\-nine thousand eii^ht luimlred and sevent\'-two Confederates. riuri' were also 
torly-one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four Inderals mortallx wounded, who 
died within a iew days after battle : the Confederates lost in the same wa\ lort\ -two thou- 
sand seven hundred and eighteen men. Another item in the ileath-roll is eight thousand 
one hundred and eighteen Federals who lost their li\es by accident on lanil and sea; the 
Confederate total from the same cause being .six thousand and forty-one. On the bederal 
side there were fifteen thousand two hundred and seven men reported as missing who 
were never after accounted for, and must be reckoned among the killed ; the Confederate 
loss in this way was sixteen thousand one hundred and eighty-four men. Appalling as 
are these figures, they are exceeded by the deaths from disease, induced !>y exposure, 
tatigue. and privation ; forthe Federals lost one hundred and eighty thousand three hun- 
dred and twenty-four men ; the Confederates one hundred and thirtv-eight thousand the 
hundred and sixteen. It will thus be seen that ilie distracted countrv sacrificed during 
fort\-nine months five hundred and eii>ht\-six thousand two hundred and sixt\- human 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



609 




GkaM. REVitW OF THB ARMV IN WASHINGTON, D. C, M*V. .8^.5. 



6io 



THE MEMORIAL WAR BOOK. 



lives, and there were fully six hundred thousand other men who were so badly crippled 
that they were unfit for the usual occupations of life. 

The financial losses can be only approximately estimated. The expenses of the 
l'"ederal ijovernment durin>j the war were one million and a half of dollars a day, making 
a total of twenty-two hundred and twenty-five millions of dollars. Takino^ the Confed- 
eracy expenditures in equal ratio, and adding the value of public and private property 




destroyed by the opposing armies, it is within bounds to say that the actual cost and 
losses of the war was over three thousand millions of dollars. 

On May 22 and 23, 1865, the troops under Meade and .Sherman marched througli 
Washington and were reviewed by President Johnson. By November of that year only 
a few thousand of the State Volunteer soldiers remained in service, the rest quietly 
re-entering the pursuits of peace. The war being finally at an end, and the institution 
of slavery forever abolished, the nation entered on an era of such prosperity as has since 
made it the wonder of the civilized world. 



THE END. 



NDEX. 



Adams, A., 476 

Alabama Sunk, 555 

Ames, A., 405 

Anderaun, Robert, 15, 17, 18, 21, 

22, 25, 27. 25, 30, 76, 597 
Anderson, R. H.,368, 382. 384, 386, 

409, 414, 416, 487. Sio, 518, 519, 553, 

59' 
Anderson ville. 552 
Anderson, T. R., 375 
Appomaitox Court House, 606 
Archer, J. J., 409 
Armistead. L. A., 407 
Arthur, Chester A., 86, 89 
Ashbolh, A., 183, 184 
Aliania, Destruction of, 590 
Augur. E. G., 45'. 454 
Averill, Wm. W., 569, 570, 571 
Ayres, R, B., 58, 410, 581, 600 



B 

Bailey, J., 506 

Bailey, T,, 219, 221 

Barnes, James, 404 

Baker, E. D., 69 

Barlow, F. C.. 376, 401, 428, 429, 

507, 514, 522, 606 
Banks, Nath. P.. 240, 241, 295, 4^5, 

440, 450, 452, 453, 454, 455, 468, 

470. 499. 508 
Barksdale, W., 375, 407 
Barrett, T. H., 607 
Bartlett, J. J., 406, 562 
Bates, Edward, y 
Battles of 

Allatoona Pass. 587 

Alsop's Farm, 519 

Antietam Creek, 314 

Augusta, 591 

Baton Rouge, 450 

Beaver Dam Station, 525 

Belmont, Mo.. 77 

Bells Ferry Road. 552 

Big Bethel. 41. 44 

Big Black River, 439 

Big Sandy Creek, 454 

Big Shanty, 586 

Big Tybee Island, 99 

Blackburn's Ford. 52 

Boydton Plank Road, 583, 6oi 

Brazo Santiago, 607 

Bull Run, 52 

Bull Run 2d (Mannassas), 290 

Cape Fear River, 593 

Carrick's Ford, 51 

Cedar Creek, 575 

Cedar Mountain, ist, 275 

Champion Hills, 436 

Chancellorsville, 375, 386 

Chantilly. 295 

Chapin's Farm, 581 

Charles City Road, 583 

Charleston, 32 

Chattanooga, 483 

Chickamauga. 471 

Chickasaw Bayou, 353 

Cold Harbor, ist, 258 

Cold Harbor, 2d, 529, 532 

Coosaw River, 98 

Corinth, 198, 338 

Corinth (Siege oO, 198 

Crampton's Gap, 312 

Cross Keys, 242 

Cub Dam Creek, 167 

Decatur, 550 

Deep Bottom, s59 

Deep Run, 562 

Drain sville.Va., 142 

Duck River, 594 

Dug Springs, 71 

Fair Oaks, 230 

Farmville. 60; 

Fayette ville. 552, 593 

Fishers Hill, 372 

Five Forks, 600 

Fort Alexander, 601 

Fort Donelson. 117 

Fort Fisher, 507 

Fort Gregg, 601 

Fort Hatteras, 86 



Battles or— Continued 

Fort Heiman. ■■5,593 
Fort Henry, 1:1 
Fort Hindman, 356 
Fort Jackson, 214 

Fort Morgan, 566 

Fort Pillow. 499 

Fort Pulaski. 100 

Fort Steadman, 599 

F-ort St. Philip, 2^7 

Fort Sumter, 7, 17, 21, 22, 31, 3; 

^34, 37. 39 

Fort Wagner, 460 

Fort Walker, 92, 93 

Franklin. 594 

Fredericksburg. 368, 370 

Gainesville, 288 

Gaines' Mills, 249 

Galveston, 450 

Gettysburg : 
Seminary Ridge, 399-405 
Little Round Top, 406 414 
Culp's Hill. 4.6-42. 
Pickett's Charge, 422-430 

Gosport Navy Yard, 173 

Grafton, 4^ 

Hanover Court House, 229 

Hanover Road, 520 

Harrison berg. 244 

Harrison's Landing 267 

Hatchie River, 340 

Hatcher's Run, ^''3 

Hilton Head, 93 

Holly Springs, 350 

Holston River, 593 

Island No. Ten, 177 

luka, 337 

Kearsarge and Alabama, 554 

Kenesaw Mountain, 543 

Knoxville, 593 

Knoxville (Siege), 49a 

Lexington, Mo., 73 

Lookout Mountain, 486 

Malvern Hill, 26. 

Mannassas, 52 

Mattapony River, 527 

Meadow Bridge, 525 

Mechanicsville, 250 

Medicine Creek, 347 

Meridian, 494 

Mill Springs. 1.5 

Mine, Petersburg. 559, 56. 

Missionary Ridge, 487 

Mobile Ray, 563 

Monitor and Merrimac, 129, .38 

Montgomery Hill. 595 

Murfreesboro', 343, 345 

New Hope Church. 542, 545 

New Market Heights, 581 

New Market Road, 561 

New Orleans. 22, 

New Ulm, 347 

Nickajack Creek, 548 

North Anna, 525 

Overton's Hill, 595 

Orchard Knob, 478 

Paine's Crossing, 605 

Pea Ridge, .83 

Peeble's Farm, 581 

Perryville. 34. 

Petersburg (Siege), 559, 578, 585 

Philippi Junction, 4. 

Pilot Knob, 593 

Pittsburg Landing, 192 

Port Hudson (Siege;, 453 

Port Royal, 91 

Powell Mountain. 64 

Prairie Grove. 346 

Ream's Station, 559 

Reed's Bridge, 473 

Resaca, 543 

Richland Creek, 595 

Rich .Mountain. 5. " 

Roanoke Island, 203. 

Rome, 543 

Sabine Cross Roa, s, 501 

Sabine Pass, 450 

Sabine River, 452 

Savage's Station, 257, 258 

Savannah. Capture of, 592 

Shady Grove Church. 532 

Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing), .9a 

Slaughter Mountain. ^78 

Snake Gap Creek, 542 



Battles at— Continued 

Spottsylvania Court House, 5.8 

Stone River 343, 345 

Strawberry Plains, 562 

Turner's Gap, 31 . 

Vicksburg (Siege), 443 

Westport, 593 

White House, 250 

WhiteOakSwamp, 232, 261 

Wilderness, 1 he, 509 

Willis Church, 260 

Wilmington, 599 

Wilson's Creek. 71 

Winchester (Banks), 241 

Winchester (Sheridan), 570, 57. 

Yazoo River. 350 

Yorktown (Siege ofj, 151 
Baxter, H.,4oi 
Bayard, G. D., 282 
Bee, B. E.. 56 
Beauregard, P. G. T., 16, 21, 27, 33, 

37. 54, 62. .67, 170, 183. IC4, 195, 

198, 338 458, 459, 529, 587, 589 

Bendix, John, 46, 47 
Benedict, L., 506 
Bermuda Hundred Landing 529 
Berry, H. G., 378, 379, 381, 382 
Betts, G. F., 204 

Birney, D. B., 367, 368, 369, 376, 378, 
381, 382, 412, 414,507, 510, 514, 522, 
^56., 581 
Bla.r, Frank P., 348, 353, 435, 436, 

439 
Blair, Montgomery, 8 
Blunt, A. P., 347 
Boggs, C. S., 2.9, 22. 
Bohfen, H., 246 
Booth, John Wilkes, 607 
Booth, L. F., 499 
Bowen, John, 437. 446 
Bradford. W. K., 499 
Bragg, Braxton, 194, 337, 340. 46S, 
470. 472. 473. 474. 475. 477. 478. 480. 
4S2, 490, 491, 494. 541 
Branch, L. OB., 328 
Brannon, J. M.. 476 
Breckenridge, John C, 346, 473, 475. 

476, 487,, 528, 529, 567, 593 
Breeze, K. R., 598 
Brewster, W. R . 403 
Brooke, J. R,, 373, 402 
Brown, John, ■■, 13, 14. 312 
Brown, John. Gen., 435 
Buchanan, Frank, .35. 565 
Buchanan, James, 11. .6, .9, 35 
Buchanan, McKean, 452 
Buckner, S. B., 126, 127, 470, 473, 

608 
Buell, Don Carlos, 106, 196, 337. 340 
Buford, John. 390, 394, 399. 405 
Burling, (,. E., 403 
Burnside, A. E., 53, 54, 199. 201. 2.0, 
=95. 3"6. 358. 361. 36s. 368. .(69. 370. 
428, 470, 479, 490, 494, 507, 508. 509, 
5"3. 5"4. 52". 522. 523. 527- 53'- 536. 
561 
Butler, Benj. F., 33, 36, 38. 84, 2.1, 

212, 450, 508. 525. 529, 559, 561. 562, 

„579. 583. 5«5. 598. 600 
Butterficld, Daniel, 229 



Caldwell, C. H. B., 453 
Caldwell, J. C, 402 
Cameron, Simon, 9, 20 

CAMfAlGNS OF 

Antietam, 297-336 
Atlanta, 54., 553 
Bull Run 5. 
Chancellorsville, 372-388 
Chattanooga, 478 
Chickamauga, 471 
Cumberland River. 117 
F'redericksburg, 358-368 



Gettysburg, 390, 430 
Hatteras Inlet, 84 
Hilton Head, 91 
March to the Sea, 586 
Meridian, 494 
Mississippi. .07 
Mississippi River, 177 
Missouri, 71 



Ca.mpaicns ov— Continued 

Mobile Bay, 563. 566 

New Orleans, 211, 223 

Ohio River, 106 

Overland, 505-538 

Paducah, 77 

Petersburg (Siege;, 55,, 585 

Port Hudsrm, 348 

Port Royal, 9. 

Red River. 5«., 503 

Roanoke Island, 199 

Shenandoah (Hanks'), 230 

Shenandoah (Hunter's). 567 

Shenandoah Ijackson's), 2.3.. 

Shenandoah lShcridan's).'<67 

Sherman's March to the Sea, 586 

Tennessee (Sherman*s), 580 

Tennessee (Thomas'), 593 

Tennessee River, 106 

Upper Potomac, 142 

Vicksburg. 348, 431 

Virginia Peninsular, 147 

Virginia Valley, 271 

West Virginia, 41 

Wilmington, 597 
Canby, E. R. S., 565 
Candy, G., 405 
Carl.n, W. P., 34, 
Carr. Joseph B , loq 
Carroll, S. S., 402 
Casey, Silas, 164 
Chartres, Due de, 154 
Chase, Salmon P., g, 20 
Ch«=atham. B F., 77, 345, 487, 5,4 
Churchill, I. J„ 357 
Civil War, Cost o/, 608 
Cleburne. 48^ 
Clarke. H. h., 400 
Cobb, Howell, 312 
Colburn, John. 469 
Colgrove, S., 405 
Comte de Paris. 16.. 331 
Confederacy. (Organized, 20 
Confederate Cabinet. 12, 20 
Confederate Privateers, 87, 554 
Cook, P. St. George, 255 
Cooke, John R., 409 
Corse, J. M„ 488, 541, 586, 589 
Couch, D. N 164. 368, 374, 381, 382 
Cox, J. D.. 65 
Craven. T. A. M.. 565 
Crawford, S. W., 14, 23, 322, 410, 
4'4, 507. 509. 510. 518, 519, 520, 527, 
528, 532, 601 

Crittenden, T. L., 112, 345, 470, 472, 

475- 477. 528 

Crook, Geo., 570, 572, 576, 577 

Cross, E. h.. 402 

Cullom. G. W , .08 

C'urtin, Gov.. 299 

Curtis, Samuel R., 109 

Cutter, L., 401 

Custer, George A., 391, 405, 571, 576 



Dahlgren, Admiral, 458, 592 

Dahlgren, Ulric, 392 

Dana. Cbas. A., 8, 20, 435, 478 

Daniel. I.. 408 

Davis. C. H., 90 

Davis. John. 205 

Davis. Jefferson, 10, 17, 20, 37, 62. 

170, 264. 6oi. 607 
Davis. Jeff. C, 339, 469, 475, 476, 545. 

553 
Dav. H-. 404 
Deerhound, Y^acht, 556 
De Golyer, 436 
Deserters, Innocent, 65 
Desher. H., 476 
De Trobriand, P. R., 40^ 
Devins, T. E , 405 
Dix, John A., 13, 19. 36 
Dodge. G. M., 482. 548, 549 
Doubleday, Abner, 26, 365, 40... 401, 

425 
Dred Scott Decision, i. 
Dwight, D., 454 
Duryee, Abram, 44. 50, 250 
Dupont. S. F.. 92, 94, 96, .01, 457, 
_ 45S, 459 
Dutch Gap Canal. 529, 562, 599 



INDEX— Continued. 



3. 348. 



E 

Early, Jubal, 167. '69- '7°. 383. 384. 

417,418. 514, 5I7. 562.567. 570.57'. 

57 J. 575. 576.577 
Ellsworih, k. b., 36, 38 
Emory. William M., 329. 253. 5o'. 

57". 57". ,5-7 
Ericsson, John, 130 
Kwcll, K. S., 340, a4>. 390. 4»7. 4'". 

4-'3. 4'5. St")- 5>o. S>3. 5". 5'S. 53». 

5(17, (x>i, iofo 
EwinR, H. S., 595 
Eustis, H. L.. 406 
F 
F.irnsworih, E. J., 405 
Farragui, David G., ; 

449. 450, 45». 563 
Ferrero, Ed., 501 
Financial Losses of ihe War, oio 
First Shot, The, aa 
Fisher, J. W., 404 
Fletcher. Thomas. 353 
Floyd. John B.,35. 39. 64. "3. "4. 608 
Fooie. A. H., Ill, ia-. "8. 177. «8'. 

183 
Forrest, N. B., 351. 469. 495. 499. 

545. 586, 593 
Fortress Monroe, 36. 4". 44 
Foster. John C, 199. 494. 559. 561. 

Franklin. W. B.. 25". 3=4. 3*5. 368, 

Fremont,' John C 11. 7". 74. ^\°< 

Fr'cnch!'V.''H., 314. 368, 3*9, 408, 

4jS, 586 

Fry, S. S., 107 
Fugitive Slave Bill, 10 

G 
Gamble, W., 405 
Gardner, Frank, 445, 453. 454 
Garfield, Jas. A., 109 
Garland, Samuel, 311 
Garneit, R. S., 5",53 
Garrard, K.. 41a, 548, 55°. 587 
Geary, J. W., 405. 477. 478. 479. 480, 



510. 514, 



Hooker, Joseph, 167. 136, 249, 263, 
316, 318, 332, 358, 363. 368. 369. 37'i 
37". 373, 374, 375. 377. 378. 379, 381, 
382, 38), 3S4, 385, 386, 388, 390, 392, 
396, 428, 479, 48.J. 482. 483, 48s. 487. 
488, 48.), 491, 494, 543, 545, 54*, 552 

Howard, O. O., 53, 54. 234, 36«, 369- 
372. 373, 374. 377- 379. 381, 382,397. 
398, 400, 401, 406, 407, 412.414,417. 
428, 479. 480, 487, 543. 552, 590, 591 

Hovey, A. P., 430, 437. 438 

Howe. A. P.. 380 

Huey. J.. 405 . . 

Humphreys, A. A., 369. 370, 374, 
408. 4'2, 416. *o6 

Hunt. H. J., 400. 407. 508 

Hunter, David, 103, 104, 450, 459. 
S02, 567, 568 

Hintcr. R. M. T.. 20 

Hllrlbut, S. A., 193, 43'. 43» 

Hazcn, W. U., 346, 473. 480 

Herron. F. T., 346. 347 ^ 

Heth, H.. 409, 5'3. 5'4. 601 

Hill. A. P.. 250. 336. 3<i3. 367. 377. 
381, 390, 401,407.425. 509.5'3. 5'4, 
516, 523, 527, 533, 601 

Hill, D.H., 336.474 

Hillyer, W. S., 130 

Hindman, Thomas C, mo, 346 

I 



485. 489. ,590 
Getty, G. W., 369, 370. 507. 



.5'.7 



Gibbon. John, 367, 368. 382, 383, 425, 
437, 439. 507, 509. 510. 5'4. 5'8. 5'9. 
522, 527, 601 
Gillmore. Q. A.. loi, 102, 103, 456, 

459, 460, 464, 50' 559 
Goldsborouqh, L. iJ., 203 
Gordon, G. H., 314 
Gordon, J. B., 408, 576,606 
Gosport Navy Yard, 24, 39 
Gower, C, 45', 453, 454, 570 
Graham, C. K.. 403 
Grander, Gordon, 464, 469, 470, 477, 

483. 491, 565, 566 
Grant. Louis A., 406, 576 
Grant, Ulysses S., 77, 79. 'o*. "o. 
116, 121, 1=3, 137- "7°. >87. '96, 337. 
338, 340, 348, 349, 350. 353. 43', 43'. 
433. 434. 435. 43*. 437. 438. 439. 44>, 
443. 445. 446. 447, 448, 478, 479. 480. 
482, 485, 487, 4-8, 489. 490, 491- 503, 
505, 5°*, 507, 509, 5"3. 5>4. 5>8. S29. 
521, 532, 533, 535, 528, 539, 533, 536, 
54'. 563, 563- 5-0, 578, 583. 584. 587. 
594, 599, 600, 601 
Greble. Lt., J. T., 47, 49, 5° 
Green, G. S., 405. 435 
Green. T., 445 
GregR. D. McM., 508. 528 
Gregg, J. 1-, 390, 439, 583 ■ 
Gregg, N., 435.. 4^" 
Grierson. Benj. H., 433, 44 
Griffin, George, 374, 410. 4'3. 581, 



600, 



H 



llackelman, P. A., 342 

Halleck, H. W., 75, §3, 106,107, 109, 

1S7, 196, 303, 337, 358, 359, 37', 440. 

443. 575, 587^ 
Hamilton. (,. S.. 34S, 349 
Hamilton. Schuyler. io8 
H.iinlin, Hannibal. 9 
ilampion Roads. 147 
Hampton. Wade, 391, 529, 536. 579, 

607 
Hancock, W. S., 167. 355. 258. 368. 

369. 370. 374, 383, 397. 398, 403. 406. 

407, 408, 416, 418, 433, 435, 438. 439, 

430. 507, 508. 5'o, 5'3. S'4. 516. 5'7. 

518, 520,533, 537, 528, 533, 536, 561, 

583. 599,, , 
Hardee, W. J^ 541, 54s, 553, 592, 597 
Harding, A. C, 469 
Harney, W. S .68 
Harper's Ferry, 38, 39, 41 
Harrow. W., 402 
Hartsuff. G. L.. 314 
Hatteras. Cape, 85 
Hawkins, R. C, 204 
Hayes, Alex., 402, 425, 427, 513, 514 
Hays, H. T., 40S 
Hayes, Rutherford B., 576 577 
Holmes, T. H., 351, 357 
Hood, J. B., 292, 363, 390, 407, 412, 

414, 416, 425, 473, 541. 548, 549, 550, 
551, S53. 586, 587. 588, 589, 593. 596 



Imhoden, J. D., 409 
Ingalls, Rufus, 400 
Island No. Ten, 348 
J 

Jackson, J. S., 341 

Jackson, T. J. iStonewall), 53, 54. 

67, 326, 239, 243, 367, 368, 375, 376, 

378. 379. 380, 381, 382, 390 
James River, 529 
Jenkins, A. G.. 409 
Johnson. Andrew. 607. 610 
Johnson. B. T., 567 
Johnson. Bushrod. 122, 417. 4'0. 

433. 473. 475. 483. 510 
Johnson. Edward. 533 
Johnston. A. S.. no 
Johnston. Joseph E.. 38, 39, 53. 167, 

437. 439. 443- 445. 447. 448. 505. 5o8, 
541. 543, 545. 546. 548, 598, 599. 
605. 5o7 

Jones. J. M.. 408 

Jones. Catesby. 136 

Joinville, Prince de, 154 
K 

Kane, T. L., 346 

Kautz, A. v., 559, 581,583 

Kearney, Phil , 164, 167. 263. 295 

Kearsarge, Frigate, 555, 556 

Kelley, B. F.. 43 

Kelly. P.. 402 

Kemper. J. L.. 407 

Keyes. E. D.. 352 

Kilpatrick. J. C. 44. 49, 405. 494. 
543, 552. 590. 591. 593 

Kimball, E. A.. 204 

Kryzanhowski, W., 405 

L 

Lamar, J. Q. B., 350, 351 
Last Battle, 607 
Law. R. L., 451 

Lee. Fitz Hugh. 376, 409, 535, 539. 563 
Lee, Robert E., 31, 32, 37, 247, 257, 
337. 363. 373, 373. 374. 375. 379. 
381, 383, 383, 384, 385, 388, 390, 397, 
398, 407, 419, 435, 438, 430, 446, 468, 
494. 505. 5°9. 514, 5'6, 5'7. 5i8, 520, 
521, 522, 537, 538, 539, 533, 536, 559. 
561, 562, 567, 578, 581, 583. 599. 600. 
601, 603, 605, 606 
Lee, S. D., 553, 586 
Lee's Surrender, 606 
Lee, W. H. F.. 409 
Lincoln. Abraham. 15. 19, 21, 23. 
34. 37. 64. 170, 371. 372, 388, 455, 
506. 507. 509. 606. 607 
Lives Sacrificed. 608 
Logan. John A.. 118. 125. 434, 438, 

440. 548. 549. 55= 
Longstreet, James, 53, 236, 258, 372, 
390, 399. 407. 409. 412, 416, 425. 428. 
429, 473. 475. 476. 477. 478, 480, 483, 
490, 491, 494, 505, 506, 5'4, 5'D. 533, 
575, 601, 606 
Loring, W. W.. 437, 438 
Louisiana Purchase, 10 
Lovell, Mansfield, 234, 338 
Lyon, Nath., 70, 72 
Lytle, W. H., 473, 475. 47* 

»l 
Magruder, John B., 38, 46, 154, 258, 

450 
Mahone, W., 409, 583, 606 
Mansfield, J. K. F., 313, 316 
Marshall, Humphrey, \\\ 
Mason, Jas, M., 215 
McCandless, W., 404 
McCausland, John, 567, 569 
McClellan, Geo. B.. 21. 36. 38, 51. 
63. 64, 139, 14'. '44. '46. '47. '5'. 
«56, 225, 250, 268, 302, 307. 331, 332, 
337. 358. 404. 538, 532 



McCiernand, J. A., 77, "'. '»o, 
122, 123, 127, 349. 363. 43'. 433. 
436. 437. 438. 440. 44' 
McCook. Anson G., 112.345.470. 
471.47 . 476. 477.478.550.553, 
McCook, Daniel, 546 
McCulloch, Benj., 18.; 
McDowell, Irwin, 38. 52, 53, 55 

326. 340. 241 
McDougall. A. L.. 405 
McGowan, S.. 409 
Mcintosh. J B.. 405 
McLaws. L.. 363. 375. 382. 384, 

390, 414. 416. 435. 474. 490 
McPherson. John, 340. 340,431. 
431. 434. 436. 438. 440. 44'. 495. 
543. 545; 548, 549 
Meade, Geo. G.. 143. 3'o. .365, 
368, 369, 373, 373. 374. 375. 377. 
381, 383, 388, 393, 396, 398,403, 
406, 407, 408. 409, 417, 419, 433. 
430, 494, 5'3. 533, 532, 559. 579. 
585, 599. 605, 610 
Meagher, Thos. F., 234 
Meredith, S., 401 
Merritt, W .. 405. 523. 570. 571. 572. 
Monitor No. I. 134 
Morgan. J. W.. 353, 357 
Morris. Lt.. Geo. A . 137 
Morgan, S. W., 341, 593 
Mosby, 1. S.. 572 
Mott, Gershom, 507, 510, 513. 

521, 533. 581 
Miles, D. S., 307 
Milroy. R. H., 346 
Missouri Compromise 10 
Mitchell, O. M . 112. 456, 457 
Mullany, I. R. M., 566 
Mulligan, Col.. Jas. A.. 74. 75 

N 
Negley, Jas. S.. 82, 475 
Neill, T. H.. 406 
New Orleans, 348 
Newton, John, 371, 382, 383, 401, 

■'°' O 



386, 



583. 



406, 



Oglesby, R. J.. 118 

Olmstead, Charles H., 103 

O'Neal. E. A.. 40S, 593 

Ord, E. O. C, 441, 446, 447. 448, 

581. 605, 606 
Osterhaus, P. J., 434. 438. 440. 483. 

48s, 489 

Palmer, J. M., 521 
Palmer, J. N., 347 
Parke, John G., 199, 443, 447. 448, 

Patn'ck,M. R.. 400 

Patterson, Robert, 54 

Paul. G. R., 401 

Paulding, H.. 35 

Peck, John J.. 372. 373 

Pegram. John. 51 

Pemberton. John C. 348. 434, 437. 

438, 41C), 440, 443, 445, 446, 454 
Perry, E. A., 409 
Petersburg Mine. 559, 561 
Pettigrew, J. J., 409. 425. 4=9 
Pickett. George E., 170. 363. 364, 

407. 42s. 4-'8, 439. 5'7. 538, 600 
Pierce. E. W., 48, 49 

Pillow, G. I.. 123 

Pleasonton, Alfred, 310, 378, 390, 

391, 397. 4°o. 439. 593 
Polk, Leonidas, 75, 77, 474. 476, 54'. 

545 



Potter, R.lB., 561,588 

Prentiss. B. M., 109 

Price. Sterling, 74, loS, 337, 1S5, 593 

Privateers. Confederate, 554 

Pryor, Roger A., 31, 167, 170, 334 

Pulpit Rock, 486 

R 

Rawlins, J. H., 130 
Read, Thomas, 606 
Reno, Jesse L.. 200. 279. 311 
Renshaw. (ieneral. 450, 451 
Reynolds.J . F., 142. 250. 365. 372. 374, 

381. 397. 398. 399. 400, 401, 402, 403 
Reynolds, J. J., 476 
Rice. J. C. 531 
Richardson. I. B.. 263 
Richmond. Capture of. 603 
Ricketts, J. B . 50. 507. 570. 576 
Robertson. B. H.. 409 
Robertson. J. B., 407 
Robinson. J. C. 401. 513, 5'8, 5'9 
Rodes, R. E., 376 377, 379, 510, 571 
Rodgers, R. C. P.. 97 
Rosecranz. W. S., 51, 64. '23. 337, 

342. 343, 468, 470, 472, 475, 477.478. 
„ 563, 593 
Ross, S.. 430 

Rousseau.'Lovell H., 190. 548,593 
Rowan. Stephen H..200 
Rowley, E. A. .401 
Ruger. T. H.. 405 
Russell, David A.. 406, 528, 567.570 



Sanford.C. W..68 

Shaler. Alex., 406. 517 

Shaw, R. G..462 

Shields. James. 230 241 

Sheridan. Philip H.. 342. 344. 469. 
472. 475. 476. 478. 482. 507. 508. 509, 
5'4. 533, 525, 520, 536. 561. 567, 570, 
57'. 573, 573, 575, 576. 577. 578. 599. 
600, 6.}!, 606 

Sheridan's Ride, 57s. 576 

Schenck, R C, 346 

Schurz, Carl. 377.401 

Scofield, Jas M.. 346.541. 545,546, 
--. -'14.595. 598 

S. .:■ "A ■ 'i.M, .s. 30. 64. 141 
S, I I iimiidf. 10, 16 

S,-. .-,■,,,„. A. I,.,f. 15.16 
bctlKwiuk, J..lin, 363, 333. 372. 374, 
375. 382. 383. 384.38s. 386.390.397. 

398. 408. 416. 507, 508, 509,510, 513, 

5"4. 5'7. 518. 530 
Semmes, Raphael. 555. 556 
Seward, Wm. H..9. 20, 607 
Seymour, Furman. 250 
Sherman, Tbos, W., 88, 89, »oi, 453, 

456 
Sherman, W. T . , 47, 53. 54. 56, 60, 

68. 76, 109, 137. 138. 190, 192, 193, 

195, 196. 350. 351.352. 353, 354, 355. 

356. 357, 43'. 433. 434. 436, 437. 439. 

440, 441, 443, 445, 447. 448, 479, 482. 

485, 487, 488, 489, 491, 494, 499, 503, 

50S, 541, 543, 545, 548, 553, 553, 585, 

586, 587, 589, 590, 591, 592, 593, 597, 

598, 607, 610 
Sibley, H. H., 445. 452 
Sickles, Dan. E.. 234. 372, 374, 376, 

378, 381, 383. 397, 398, 406. 408. 409, 

410. 412. 416. 439 
Sigel. Franz. 71. 73, 508, 569 
Slemmer. Adam J., 37, 38 
Slidell. John. 215 
Slocum. Henry W.. 253. 255. 372. 

373, 374. 376, 381, 383, 397, 398, 402, 

406, 407, 4..8, 417, 425. 479. 552, 590, 

59' 
Smith, A. J., 348. 353. 434. 446. 480, 

494, 501, 5°2, 545. 593. 595 
Smith, Caleb B.. 9 
Smith, Chas. F., 77 
Smith, G. C, 469 
Smith. J., Ad., 132, 137 
Smith, Kirby, 341, 502, 607, 608 
Smith, John E., 430, 434 
Smith. Lt. Joseph B , 131. 132 
Smith. Morgan L.. 353. 548 
Smith, Martin Luther, 353 
Smith, Wm. F., 164, 479, 480, 508, 

532. 536, 559 
Smith, W. Sooy, 448, 495 
Smith, \V., 408 
Smyth. T. A., 402, 606 
Sprague, Wm., 26, 35 
Stahl, J., 246 

Stanley, 469, 470, 552. 553. 589. 594 
Stannard. G. J.. 401. 435. 427 
Stanton. Edwin M..20. 144. 145,478, 

505, 506. 507, 559, 572, 575 
Starkweather. J. C. 341 
Stephens. Ale.x. H., ti, 17, 20 
Steuart. G. H.. 408 
Stevens. Isaac I., 89 
Stevens .n, C. L., 483, 485 
Stevenson. T. G., 508, 521 
Stewart. Geo. H., 522 
Stone, Roy, 401 
Sloneman, George, 367, 372, 373, 

374. 55°, 552. 593 
Streight, A. D., 470 
Stringham, Silas H., 83 
Strong, G. C, 464 
Stuart, J. E. B., 142, m3. 281. 316, 

367. 381. 382. 429. 514. 533, 535 
Sturgis, S. D.. 190 
Sumner. E. V.. 341. 358. 359. 361, 

365, 36S. 371 
Swamp Angel. 458. 462 

Sweitzer. J. B., 404 

Sykes, George, 369, 374. 379. 4'o 



Taliaferro, W. H.. 293 

Taney. Judge, n 

Tatnall. Josiah. 96. 09 

Terry. A. H.. 460. =,98 

Thomas. George H.. 106, 113.34' 
342. 343. 42S. 470. 472. 473. 475 
478. 482. 487. 489. 494. 54'. 542 
545. 548. 552. 553. 585. 589. 593. 594. 
505. 596. 5.07 

Tilghman, L., in, 115 

Tilton. ■W. S , 4"4 

Torbert, A. T. A., 406, 508, 528, 53- 
572. 577 „ 

Tracy, E. D., 445 

Tvler, E. B., 57, 536 

Tyler. R. O.. 525 

V 

L^pton. Emory, 521 



R B 13 6: 



INDEX— Continued. 



Van Dorn, 184, 337, 3 
Vaughn, I. H., 567 
Viele, Egbert L., 89, 
Vincent, S., 404, 410 



Wadsworth, J. S., 401, 

513, 514. 5"0 
Walker, L. P , 435 
Walker, W. H. T., 473 
Wallace, Lew, 119. i 

127, 569 
Wallace, W. H 



94 



Ward, Hobart, 380 
Warren, G. K.,'44, 48, 50, 

382, 400, 407, 412, 414, 507, 

513. S18, 519. 520, 522. 527 

536 

Webb, A. S., 402. 514 
Webster, J. D., 120 
Weed, S. H., 379, 404, 410 
Weitzel, G., 451, 452, 453, 4 
Welles, Gideon, 9 
Wheaton, Frank, 406 
Wheeler, General, 470, 473, 

586, 591, 592 
Whipple, A. W., 373, 380, 3 
Whittaker, E. W., 521 



229, 292, 
, 508, 509, 

528, 532, 



54, 603 
541.552 



Wilcox, G, M., 409 
Wilcox, O, B., 294, 

5*1, 581 



368, 384, 504, 



. 45°. 45" 



Willard, G. L., 402 
Williams, A. S., 373, 

wlfui 

Wilkes, Charles,'! 

Wilson, Colonel Billy, 87, 88 

Wilson, J. H., 508, 509, S25, 536,559. 

57'. 572 
Winslow, John A , 555 
Winthrop, Major T., 49 
Wool, John E„ 84, 85, 13s, 173, 



Wood, T. J., 347 

Wooster, Scrjfeant J. A., 460, 

462 
Worden, John L., 135, 138 
Wright, H. G., 88,93, 507, 520, 522, 

527. 532. 536, 569. 571. 575. 576. 577. 



Zagonyi, Charles. 74, 75 
Zollicoffer, Felix K.,iofi, .07,103, 
Zook, S. K,, 402, 414 



>1 




^. >^ -^^ . .. ., . V '^ -^..*. 



4'\ .*'% /X .*'\ 




o V 



*' 



O, * - . ' 






•71 



':/>^^ 

0.^-^ 






■p- • ■ •• • a" O ♦ o , ' .0 ^ 






r^^j*;- 






.0^ 




< ST. AUGUSTINE •^^ <^ ^l 



